The Minnesota Wild had an eventful Saturday afternoon.
Ryan Hartman scored the game-winner with 3 minutes, 13 seconds left in regulation to give the Wild a 3-1 victory over Chicago in Saturday matinee at the Xcel Energy Center. Then within roughly a half-hour of the game’s end, news broke that the Wild had made a trade for the Anaheim Ducks veteran forward Nicolas Deslauriers
Minnesota is giving a third-round selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in return.
#mnwild acquires Nicolas Deslauriers in exchange for third-round pick https://t.co/zUU6LgprnG
— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) March 19, 2022
True, it wasn’t be the biggest sports transaction that happened in the Minnesota sports scene on Saturday. The Minnesota Twins won that with the stunning signing of free agent Carlos Correa. But It’s the second move the Wild have complete this week and comes days after the team obtained forward Tyson Jost from Colorado in exchange for Nico Sturm.
Deslauriers had five goals and 10 points in 61 games with the Ducks this season. The 6-foot-1, 220 pound forward also has 90 penalty minutes this season and totaled 498 minutes in 486 career NHL games with the Ducks, Montreal and Buffalo. He also has 41 goals and 82 points in his pro career.
Michael Russo of The Athletic noted the Wild’s interest in Deslauriers is that ability to bring a physical presence to the lineup, highlighted by the fact the 31-year-old is credited with 210 hits this season, which ranks fifth in the league.
Russo quoted Wild coach Dean Evason, who commented on the trade in his media availability session after the Chicago game:
"Seems to fit the Minnesota Wild, right?,” Evason said. “Plays a hard game, plays gritty. He’s got a skillsett, too, that can score It’s going to provide us with size and bite and can play up and down our lineup so we’re excited."
The NHL trade deadline is Monday. the same day the Wild continue a nine-game homestand against the Vegas Golden Knights.