The Minnesota Wild once again navigate an offseason without a Stanley Cup or Final appearance to their credit. But there is reason for optimism, as the Wild look like they could be legitimate contenders next season. Given the format of the playoffs, they will have to get through the Central Division, which features fellow playoff teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Utah Mammoth.
General manager Bill Guerin has shown that he can be aggressive to ensure the Wild have a legitimate chance to win the Stanley Cup. That was evident after the Quinn Hughes trade last December. Will he be able to pull off another big move on the trade block? Will he bring in one of the top options in free agency? What should Guerin do this offseason?
Here are three moves the Wild should make this offseason.
3 moves the Wild must make this offseason to have legitimate Stanley Cup chances next season
3. Re-sign Mats Zuccarello
The Wild committed the richest contract in NHL history to Kirill Kaprizov before the start of the season. Had they not, he would have hit free agency and cashed in with another team. Thus, Guerin gave Kaprizov an eight-year, $136 million contract extension. With that contract, the team has to do their best to put the best players around him. That doesn't necessarily mean the biggest names, but it does mean ones that has chemistry with Kaprizov.
For the Wild, they do have one player that has built up a rapport with Kaprizov -- the Kaprizov Whisperer, if you will -- and that's Mats Zuccarello.
Zuccarello has been one of the unsung heroes for the Wild, especially this season. Through 59 games played in the regular season, Zuccarello recorded 54 points (15 goals, 39 assists), which was the third-most on the entire team. In Game 1 of their first round series against the Stars, Zuccarello recorded three assists in their dominant 6-1 victory. However, Zuccarello would miss their next three games due to a head injury. In Game 5, Zuccarello scored a goal. Overall in the playoffs, Zuccarello posted two goals and seven assists in eight games.
Zuccarello is set to hit unrestricted free agency, but said he would like to stay with the Wild. It would make so much sense for the Wild. Why break up the chemistry that he has with Kaprizov? It sounds as though Guerin is open to keeping Zuccarello around, too.
2. Trade for Vincent Trocheck
It's time for the Wild to revisit a trade that they missed out on at the trade deadline. It was no secret that Guerin was looking for a top two center at the deadline, and Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers was their target. While Trocheck didn't put up a plethora of points, he is a great face-off center and can contribute tremendously on the penalty kill.
Guerin knows Trocheck well, as he picked him for the United States' men's hockey team for this year's Winter Olympics. It was a move criticized by fans and media, especially after leaving the likes of Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens and Jason Robertson of the stars off the roster. But Trocheck made up for it on the penalty kill and by playing a gritty style of hockey. The decision paid off, as Team USA won the gold medal for the first time since 1980.
Guerin didn't hide that he was trying to acquire Trocheck. The Rangers declared they would enter a retool, and Trocheck was their most valuable player, due to his play and that he is under contract through the 2028-29 season with a $5.6 million cap hit. The Wild made sense, as Guerin had Rangers general manager Chris Drury as part of his team for the United States' Olympic team. But Drury had a high asking price for Trocheck, and Guerin joked that he was hoping to get a discount.
Ultimately, Drury decided to keep Trocheck past the trade deadline, but the door is set to re-open this offseason. Given the lackluster free agency class, Trocheck should be in high demand. For the Wild, if they want to ensure they make it past the Stars and Avalanche next season, they'll need to stack their top six forward group. Trocheck makes so much sense for the Wild, and they can't afford to lose out on him.
1. Sign Quinn Hughes to contract extension
This is the most "well duh" move on the Wild's offseason checklist. They traded for Hughes last December, giving up three young players and a first round pick to bring in a legitimate star. The thing is, at the time of the trade, the window to negotiate a contract extension closed, and it will not open until July 1, the official start of free agency.
Guerin took a chance on bringing in Hughes not just to help the Wild compete for a Stanley Cup, but also to entice him to sign a contract extension. Let's just say that the Wild have made an impression.
Hughes scored five goals and recorded 48 assists in 48 regular season games. In the playoffs, Hughes tied with Kaprizov for the most points on the entire team with 15 (four goals, 11 assists). The star's most notable moment was Game 6 against the Stars when he scored two goals to help the Wild advance to the second round for the first time since 2015.
Let's just say the first season with the Wild left an impression on Hughes, as he said after Minnesota's season ended that he would be open to signing a contract extension as soon as the offseason.
“I can say that I really like it here,” Hughes said, h/t Michael Russo of The Athletic. “I love the team. I love the city and the fans. Just being in that locker room, it’s a special group. Would definitely be open to re-signing here with the guys that we have in the room and just the people we have in the room. A lot of trust with Billy, as well, and love (coach John Hynes) and (associate coach Jack Capuano) and the coaching staff.
“I just think it’s a great spot, great situation for myself.”
This is a layup for the Wild. He is interested in staying put in Minnesota. Their first priority of this offseason is to try and reach an agreement on a contract extension that will keep him with the team beyond next season. Given that Hughes is one of the top defensemen in the game, it may not come cheap. But, they do have the inside track to try and get a contract done.
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