Who Should the Wild Look to Move at the Trade Deadline?
Mid-way through the bye week, the Minnesota Wild find themselves five points out of the Wildcard that’s currently held by Vegas and Arizona at 57 points. The month of February will be a great challenge for the Wild. Who might be on the move? Here are Five Possibilities
The Wild are slated for 12 games leading up to the 2020 NHL trade deadline. Of those 12 games, nine will be played against teams currently holding a spot in the playoffs. In true Minnesota Wild fashion, I could see this team play lights out in February, and seemingly handcuff General Manager Bill Guerin. Do I think the team is competitive enough to challenge these teams in February? Of course, but I think we all understand that this core isn’t going to bring Lord Stanley to Tom Reid’s Pub on 7th Street. It would be in the Wild’s best interest to look to build for the future in hopes that some of our younger prospects can make an impact down the road.
Jonas Brodin
The first player the Wild should look at trading is left-handed defenseman, Jonas Brodin. Arguably Brodin could get the biggest return out of the five players. Brodin is one of the better skaters in the league, and when it comes down to winning games in April and May, you want a strong defensively minded player that can get your club out of a jam. That is exactly what Brodin is. His play inside of his zone is concise and to the point. Brodin rarely makes mistakes in his zone, and often gets the Wild out of trouble. Per CapFriendly, Brodin carries a 4.16 million dollar hit this season and next. Currently at the age of 26, Brodin will look for term and most likely a raise on his next contract. I think right now Brodin’s value is probably at its peak. I think the Wild could easily get a first-round pick and notable prospect or two for the Swedish born defenseman.
Marcus Foligno
The second player the Wild should look at trading is left shot winger Marcus Foligno. Foligno is on pace for a career year and has been a staple on the Wild’s third line and has been one of the best penalty killers this season. Foligno currently has 9 goals and 11 assists for a total of 20 points in 40 games. Through 2015-2018, Foligno posted a career-high 23 points in each of the three seasons. A physical specimen, Foligno goes hard to the net and comes out with the puck in dirty areas. Foligno’s physical game is one of his best attributes, a menace for opposing players and powerplay units.
Foligno is the exact player NHL teams look for at the trade deadline. Foligno isn’t going to light up the score sheet every night, but he’s going to give you 110% every night and contribute on the penalty kill. When it comes to the playoffs, the winner always has great special teams. Foligno could be that player that solidifies your penalty kill and brings your team tighter and closer to the ultimate goal. I think it all comes down to how desperate a team is and how much they have to give up. I think Foligno could bring in a couple of lower picks (2nd-4th round) and possibly a prospect. Now is the time to sell on Foligno. His stock will never be higher.
Jason Zucker
The third player the Wild should look at trading is speedy left-shot winger Jason Zucker. It’s funny to think Paul Fenton spent nearly all of last season trying to give Zucker away as he did with a couple of other players. Zucker hasn’t had the best season, but after missing close to five weeks with an injury his numbers are not bad. Zucker has quietly amassed 14 goals and 14 assists in 40 games this season. The only tough thing about pulling off a Zucker deal is his modified NTC and the fact that he still has three more years on his contract after this season at 5.5 million (per capfriendly.com).
Zucker is an intriguing piece for any team trying to make a deep playoff push. Zucker can wheel around defenders not only using his speed, but Zucker is a great skater and shows unbelievable edge work. His ability to fly through the neutral zone and change angles with a heel-to-heel turn is crazy. Zucker can bring speed and scoring to any team with the cap space that are looking to upgrade their top six, and who doesn’t want a King Clancey award winner in their locker room? Zucker could bring back a noteworthy package for his services. Any team in contention would be willing to give up a first-round pick for Zucker along with a prospect or two.
Eric Staal
The fourth, and probably most controversial player readers will disagree with me on is Eric Staal. After playing his 1,000th game and scoring his 1,000th point with the Wild, the Thunder Bay Ontario native has reborn his career in Minnesota. Staal currently leads the Wild with 38 points in 50 games this season. If there was one thing that Paul Fenton could’ve done right it would’ve been to trade Staal last season and then re-sign him back in the offseason.
Currently, Staal is our #1 center on a team that lacks scoring center depth. Would moving Staal handcuff the Wild and show we’re in true “tank mode?” Yes, but I also think that Staal could be a centerpiece on any team not only looking to make a deep run but also looking for an offensive center on a cheap 3.25 million cap hit this season and next (per capfriendly.com). Staal can make great passes on a whim and still has the muster to rifle one into the top corner. To the right team, I think Guerin could get a decent haul for Staal. I would say somewhere in the ballpark of a couple of picks and a decent prospect. I would think at least a 1st round pick and maybe a conditional 4-5th round pick along with a top third prospect. I would hate to see Staal go, but the Wild aren’t getting any younger, and he’s not a player that’s going to contribute to our next playoff run.
Jordan Greenway
The fifth player I’m going to include on this list is Boston University’s own Jordan Greenway. Greenway was a second-round pick, 50th overall in the 2015 NHL draft. Greenway’s 6’6 230lb frame is a monster on the puck. Greenway is the junkyard dog you let loose in the corner and somehow he manages to come out with the puck. At 22 years old, has Greenway hit his ceiling as an NHL player? No, but it’s time for the Wild to cut bait and give him a shot somewhere else. Greenway would be more on the lines of a “hockey trade,” but his raw ability is there. Is there a possibility that Greenway develops into that monster power forward we all want? Of course, but it’s time to give him a chance somewhere else, and by doing so you free up a roster spot on the left side for the prized entrance of Kirill Kaprizov next season.
It’s unfortunate for Greenway this season, as he’s been in Boudreau’s doghouse and demoted down to the 4th line for most of the season. Does this sound familiar to Wild fans? The same thing happened to our beloved El Nino last season. Boudreau demoted him to the 4th line and soon after he found himself packing his bags and moving to the East coast. I just don’t think it’s fair to hold a guy like Greenway to the 4th line and under 10 minutes of ice time per game. I do think it would be some sort of hockey trade involving another player in need of a change in scenery.
Wrap Up
All in all, I believe the Wild will be sellers at the deadline. There are currently players on this roster that have stocks at all-time highs. There’s also plenty of other players that could be on the block that I didn’t mention. Last season it sounded like Paul Fenton had a suitor for Zach Parise, could we see that? I doubt it, but it’s a possibility. Could we see Ryan Donato on the way out of Minnesota? Possibly Matt Dumba on his way to Toronto?
Leave a comment or tweet at us, and tell me what you think about these five players and the type of return you think they deserve.