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The Minnesota Wild are not done adding this season, looking at one New York Rangers forward not named Artemi Panarin.
The Minnesota Wild remain hot on the radar of NHL trade rumors. Despite landing the biggest fish of this season, the team remains active in the pursuit of upgrades.
The prevailing chatter has posited the Wild looking into the New York Rangers’ available pieces. The most immediate name that has popped up in trade rumors has been impending UFA Artemi Panarin.
While Panarin could certainly boost the Wild’s offense. He doesn’t fit a positional need. The Wild need a top-line center to play with star Kirill Kaprizov. That situation prompted insider David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period to write the following:
“Vincent Trocheck is also on the radars of multiple clubs, including the Minnesota Wild, and he is someone to keep tabs on this trading season.”
Trocheck, it seems, fills that positional need for the Wild. The Rangers don’t seem eager to move him this season. But there’s a sense that everyone on New York’s roster would be available.
Moreover, Trocheck is the sort of big fish the Wild are targeting at the moment. The Wild know that Trocheck won’t come cheap. But he’s the sort of piece the team needs to complement the addition of Quinn Hughes.
The asking price for Trocheck will likely be high. He’s got a fantastic cap hit a $5.625 million. So, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see the Rangers ask for multiple high-end pieces for Trocheck.
How Trocheck Fits into Wild’s Lineup
Trocheck would instantly become the Wild’s top-line center. At the moment, the Wild have been rolling with Ryan Hartman as their top-line pivot. Hartman’s fine as a stopgap solution. But in the long run, Minnesota needs someone more offensively inclined.
That’s what Trocheck would bring to the table. He’s a reliable 70 to 80-point player. On a good team, Trocheck could be a point-per-game player. As such, playing with Kaprizov could help elevate Trocheck’s numbers beyond their current level.
Why Panarin Doesn’t Really Fit Minnesota’s Plans
Just about every contender would love to add Artemi Panarin. But he just doesn’t fit the Wild’s plans at the moment. Panarin is a left winger, the same position that Kaprizov plays. As such, Panarin would have to slide to Minnesota’s second line, or perhaps have one of Kaprizov or Panarin play on his off-wing.
That idea might work. But it doesn’t solve the broader issue. Two elite-level wingers would do wonders, but they’d be playing without a legit 1C. That situation could force Wild GM Bill Guerin to pursue other deals.
Perhaps a mega-deal including both Trocheck and Panarin might be in the cards. It’s mind-shocking to fathom what it would take to land both players in a single trade. Still, Minnesota is not calling it a night. They remain actively pursuing everything they can to improve their playoff chances.
And it makes sense. The Wild will likely have to go through the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche to make it to the Western Conference Final. There, they could easily run into either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Edmonton Oilers.
In short, the path ahead for the Wild won’t be an easy one. That’s why it’s reasonable to see Guerin pulling out all the stops this season.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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