Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
By the time the Minnesota Wild take the ice tonight after the NHL trade deadline, who knows what the lineup will look like, if everyone can get to Vegas by the 9 p.m. CST puckdrop.
Over the past few days, while the president of hockey operations continues to wait patiently for a last-minute blockbuster trade for a top-six center to present itself, Bill Guerin has been making all sorts of changes to the Wild’s depth.
Earlier this week, Minnesota signed Robby Fabbri off waivers and traded a second round pick to Nashville for veteran center Michael McCarron. Then Billy moved to the blue line, where Thursday he dealt a seventh round pick to Florida for defenseman, Jeff Petry.
Minnesota Wild trade for Minnetonka kid
But on Friday morning, Guerin struck again, this time with a deal that’s a bit more intriguing both in the now and future. This time, the Minnesota Wild are trading disappointing defenseman David Jiricek, 22, for Minnetonka’s own Bobby Brink.
Bobby Brink to MIN for David Jiricek
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 6, 2026
Brink is a 24-year-old forward who, in his fourth NHL season, amassed a career-high 13 goals and 26 total points with the Philadelphia Flyers. According to Michael Russo (The Athletic), the Minnesota Wild plan to play their new homegrown youngster as their third line right wing, but he could move up or down accordingly.
After leading the Minnetonka Skippers to the Minnesota 2A state championship as a senior in 2018, Bobby Brink went to the University of Denver, where he won a National Championship in 2022, right after he won a World Juniors title in 2021 with Team USA.
Bobby Brink could be present/future glue piece for MN Wild
Since arriving in the NHL back as a 20-year-old in 2021, Brink has played 201 total games, potted 36 goals and assisted on 58 more. Last season, the former 34th overall selection in the 2019 draft set a career high with 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists).
Bobby Brink on the power play‼️ @NHLFlyers lead 2-1#NHLNShowcase | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/Vh86YVUT9n
— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) January 18, 2025
BOBBY BRINK CONFIRMED HANDS TEAM 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/nsuh8MIIQp
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) October 29, 2025
Bobby is on the final year of a contract that pays him $1.5 million per season, but at the end of the 2025-26 season, he will become a RESTRICTED free agent, meaning the Wild will have the opportunity to keep him around, should they decide to.
Given Minnesota traded Jiricek for a first round draft pick + more last season, I’d have to imagine Guerin plans to keep Brink beyond this season. If Bobby Brink doesn’t settle in as a longtime member of the Minnesota Wild, the Jiricek deal will look like a stain on Guerin’s front office career.
Bobby Brink vs David Jiricek
As a member of the MN Wild, Jiricek totalled just one goal and one assist (31 games). But get this: Both points actually came during the SIX games he played in a Wild sweater last season. In the 25 games he’s played in 2025-26, the former No. 6 overall draft pick has failed to post even a single point.
When you think about the buy-in issues Jiricek has had throughout his young professional career, vs Brink — who has won championships at every level other than the NHL — it’s possible we could look back on this deal as one that helped push the Minnesota Wild over the top sometime in the next few years.
Hardware Brink
Bobby Brink adds another championship title to his resume. The Minnetonka native has won three coveted trophies in four years
2018 – HS state champ (Tonka)
2021 – World Juniors champ (USA)
2022 – NCAA champ (Denver) pic.twitter.com/ImAOdI1UgL
— YHH (@YouthHockeyHub) April 10, 2022
Minnetonka’s Bobby Brink picks up his second in front of the net pic.twitter.com/9VI0w0tx7F
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) December 29, 2020
Mentioned in this article: Bobby Brink NHL Trade NHL Trade Deadline
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