3 sensible trades for the Minnesota Wild in a quest to accumulate some cap space

Marcus Johansson could go for a relatively high pick in the right situation 

Marcus Johansson is still a serviceable player, and just like last season, we could see the 14-year veteran on the move once more. Johansson joined the Wild last season during their playoff run in a trade with the Washington Capitals, putting up 18 points and six goals in 20 contests.

He put up another pair of goals in six playoff games and has been relatively effective in 2023-24 with 24 points in 50 contests. While his numbers noticeably dropped, it’s no different from what we have seen with the rest of this hockey team. So as with many players non-contenders could move at the deadline, Johansson could still thrive with the right team. 

He’s not currently listed as a potential trade candidate, but given the current situation the Wild are in, seeing him go elsewhere shouldn’t be so surprising. Therefore, a team looking for depth, like the New York Rangers, could come calling. 

For this trade scenario, the Wild would acquire a second-rounder in 2024 along with Kaapo Kakko. Although ideally, they would want more salary cap space, getting a young talent like Kakko who hasn’t quite panned out in New York gives them a young player with high upside. Things just haven’t gone Kakko’s way in New York, but it doesn’t mean he won’t at least end up as a serviceable asset.