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What Bill Guerin’s Quiet Deadline Means for the Future of the Wild Roster

By Lake Martin

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 20: Zach Parise #11 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the game at Xcel Energy Center on October 20, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Canadiens 4-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 20: Zach Parise #11 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the game at Xcel Energy Center on October 20, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Canadiens 4-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Eric Staal

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – JANUARY 25: Eric Staal #12 of the Minnesota Wild skates in the game between Pacific Division and Central Division during the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Enterprise Center on January 25, 2020, in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – JANUARY 25: Eric Staal #12 of the Minnesota Wild skates in the game between Pacific Division and Central Division during the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Enterprise Center on January 25, 2020, in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Eric Staal was almost traded at the deadline last season. Instead, Paul Fenton held on to him and extended him for an additional two years. While I enjoy BEST OF THE YEAR Eric Staal, I don’t believe it was the right move. The reported deals were very friendly for Minnesota and Staal’s play has declined significantly since last season’s trade deadline. His skating has slowed, the strides are less powerful, and it feels like he’s becoming more and more a passenger on the ice.

This squad is in dire need of quality centers, and while Eric Staal was that when he first joined Minnesota, he just isn’t anymore. He could be apart of a package that brings in another center. Unsure of the interest levels in Staal right now. It was reported that he could be reunited with Chuck Fletcher and the Flyers at the deadline. Maybe Fletcher circles back with Guerin in the offseason.

I wouldn’t be against keeping Staal, he just can’t be our top-line center anymore.

Teams Potentially Interested: PHI

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