The Olympic trade freeze has begun and will last until Feb. 22 at 11 p.m. That won’t prevent Minnesota Wild president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin from talking trade, of course.
Sure, he’ll be preoccupied in Milan, watching to see if the U.S. team he constructed will be able to win the country’s first men’s hockey gold medal in 46 years. And sure, he says that’s his lone focus.
But to think he and assistant GM Chris Kelleher, who is Team USA’s director of player personnel, won’t be spitballing trades is foolish. He’ll be talking with the other GMs who are in Milan — Team USA’s Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Tom Fitzgerald (New Jersey Devils), Bill Zito (Florida Panthers) and Stan Bowman (Edmonton Oilers), and Team Canada’s Doug Armstrong (St. Louis Blues), Kyle Dubas (Pittsburgh Penguins), Jim Nill (Dallas Stars), Julien BriseBois (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Don Sweeney (Boston Bruins) — as well as those who aren’t.
These gents don’t have much day-to-day stuff to do during the Olympics.
After Guerin pulled off the Dec. 12 splash to add franchise-altering defenseman Quinn Hughes, we know Guerin is now looking for a top-six forward, preferably a center. Who will he go after? That brings us to Part 1 of our two-part February mailbag, which includes many of your trade questions.
(Note: Some questions are edited for length and clarity.)
Any chance that if Billy puts Jesper Wallstedt on the table, he could get in the game for Jack Hughes or Brady Tkackuk? — Christopher L.
It’s unlikely either of those players is available now, but they could be this summer or beyond. Like with Quinn Hughes, maybe the Ottawa Senators will want to know early if Tkachuk plans to extend after next season. And if the answer is “no,” the Wild could go after one of Hughes’ best friends.
This is why Guerin has been transparent in saying he wants to be patient and not pull the trigger on the first big deal available. The Wild have traded a lot of assets the past few years and have few blue-chippers left, so it’d be a shame to trade Wallstedt now for a lesser player and suddenly be shut out of a bigger fish this summer or next season.
What is the plan for acquiring a center at the deadline? Is Guerin committed to acquiring one even if it’s not a bona fide top-liner? — Ian K.
Probably, especially because Ryan Hartman or Danila Yurov can transition to wing if needed.
An elite player in the faceoff circle would be the biggest desire, which is why Vincent Trocheck and Ryan O’Reilly make so much sense. Trocheck can be had, but the price is going to be high considering he comes with three years left on his contract. O’Reilly will control his destiny even though he doesn’t have trade protection, and the Preds are flirting with a playoff spot.
Who is Wallstedt on the table for? Trocheck? Robert Thomas? Someone who isn’t publicly known yet? — Aj D.
For years, it was clear that it was just a matter of time before Marco Rossi was traded. That’s not quite the case with Wallstedt, but it really does feel inevitable. It’s no certainty that a trade would happen before the trade deadline, but Guerin at some point will want to take another big swing, and because Wallstedt is the team’s best “prospect” in a league where several teams need goaltending, he could be the chip to get the Wild another stud.
The reality is that Filip Gustavsson being signed through 2031 makes Wallstedt expendable. It would reportedly take a lot more than Wallstedt to get Thomas, and if that’s the case, saving Wallstedt for a “can’t say no” deal makes the most sense.
Do teams accumulate cap space during the Olympic break, or is that frozen? — Mark M.
They accrue, which is why some players get sent to the minors. That’s part of why there were so few trades ahead of the freeze. In addition to teams wanting to see what their injury situation is after the Olympics, they also don’t want to trade for a player and pay him a few hundred grand for three weeks of not playing.
Could Jesperi Kotkaniemi be a long-term 3C option for the Wild? What would Carolina be looking for in return? — Donnybrook N.
He’s an interesting player. There are times he looks like a stud, and there are times he looks like a nothing burger. And he does seem to have fallen out of favor in Carolina. It shouldn’t take much to get him, and the Wild have likely talked to the Hurricanes as they size up the center market. Gut feeling: The Wild do think there is more there and that he just needs ice time and confidence.
For a true No. 1 like Thomas or Nico Hischier, could the Wild be tempted to part with Danila Yurov (as little as we all would want that)? — Matthew B.
The Wild are reluctant to part with Yurov for a few reasons. 1) They’ve already depleted their center depth by trading Rossi. That’s why they need a center right now. And 2) Yurov has shown impressive development in his rookie year, has the ability to play up and down the lineup and is going to be cheap on his entry-level contract for a few years.
But Guerin said the other day that there are no untouchables if it’s the right deal. That should only be if it’s a guy like Hischier. Also, keep in mind that if you trade Yurov, you probably don’t want to trade Charlie Stramel too.
Is there any scenario where a deal for Jack Hughes in exchange for a package consisting of Wallstedt, Stramel, a first and likely a couple more decent pieces somehow comes together? I know the odds are likely extremely low, but a guy can dream, can’t he? — Steve A.
Keep dreaming, Steve. It’s hard to imagine Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald, already under fire for the team’s underperformance and for missing out on Quinn Hughes, would trade the team’s franchise player. This only occurs if there’s a management change, likely in the offseason, and the team decides to go into a rebuild.
Is there a way we get a 1C without giving up Wally? — Kyle M.
It would probably be tough with the trade chips the Wild have left. Stramel, Adam Benak, David Spacek and David Jiricek only get you so far. Perhaps the Wild could move someone off their roster, like Ryan Hartman — their current No. 1 center, by the way — but that would create a similar issue with lacking center depth.
What’s the better trade deadline strategy: Go for a 1C by trading Wallstedt and/or Yurov? Or give up picks and prospects (Stramel, Jiricek, Benak, 2027 first) for a lesser player (O’Reilly, Trocheck, Nazem Kadri, etc.)? — Larry R.
That’s a good question. It depends on who’s available, of course. But Guerin said the other day that the one thing he thinks about the most is “patience, patience, patience,” as there could be better deals — and bigger swings — available this summer. You can only trade a Stramel or Wallstedt once. The problem is you don’t want to give up No. 1 center prices for guys who, let’s be honest, aren’t front-line guys. O’Reilly is a nice piece, a Cup champ and Conn Smythe winner who can definitely help. Trocheck is a versatile player, strong on faceoffs, and a Guerin type of player. You shouldn’t give up 1C prices for them, though. For a Hischier or Brady Tkachuk, yes.
Russo note: Joe, just admit you want Stamkos.
Smith note: I actually do think it’d be a great fit, especially if Nashville retains money.
Russo note: Maybe he won’t waive so he doesn’t have to be covered by you again.
Does Guerin have any regrets over committing to Gustavsson with a no-trade provision? — Craig B.
No. It’s the price of doing business. The way the goalie market was going, Gustavsson signing at $6.8 million was a significant discount, believe it or not. And with that comes a giveback, in the form of a no-move clause for two years (inherited into this contract, which is the rule), after which it becomes a 15-team no-trade.
Like it or not, Gustavsson is the goalie who has consistently won from November until now. In 22 games since Nov. 16, Gustavsson is 15-2-4, ranking fifth in the NHL with a 2.27 goals-against average and tied for fifth in wins and tied for sixth with a .918 save percentage.
Would the Wild consider trading for Patrick Laine as a last resort if other targets aren’t available? — Larry R.
Not likely. Been there, done that. Remember, the Wild tried to acquire Laine before last season and got close, and Laine did not want to come here, per league sources. Guerin remembers things like that.
Charlie Coyle as an option? — Christopher L.
This wouldn’t be a game-changer, but he has played well lately, the Wild have checked in with Columbus, and Guerin likes him. Partially because of the accent.
Please tell me the Wild are looking at top-six righties instead of lefties with only Hartman and Vinnie Hinostroza as their only right-shot forwards? — Kayla H.
Yes, the Wild would prefer to acquire a right shot. They’re pretty much down to Hartman when it comes to draws on the right side and could use a right-shot on the top power play, which features five left shots currently (Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Hughes, Mats Zuccarello and Joel Eriksson Ek).
If the Wild were to offer Wally, Yurov, Stramel and a first, who is the best 1C they could realistically get? — Mn_Sports_Fan 1.
Sidney Crosby … in his prime? Holy smokes, that’s a huge package you’re talking about giving up there.
Outside of Wallstadt and Hartman, is there anyone on the current roster with value, in order to get someone of consequence? — Rob C.
Yeah, Kaprizov, Boldy, Hughes and Brock Faber. Kidding. Marcus Foligno would be extremely coveted, but Guerin loves him, and it’s unlikely he’d move him. Same thing with Jake Middleton, and with Jonas Brodin hurt, it’d be hard to trade a defenseman. Both have no-move clauses, too. Obviously, Yurov is the other player with value.
Would Nashville still part with a first-rounder for Jiricek? Does Guerin still have enough belief in the big defenseman to hold onto him if that’s the offer? — Brad J.
It’s hard to tell with Predators GM Barry Trotz announcing he’s retiring after the season, but Nashville was in on Jiricek hard when Columbus was moving him a year and a half ago.
And yes, the Wild would probably be open to moving Jiricek for a first or as part of a package for a bigger move. If they got a first for him, it would give them another valuable asset at the deadline.
As much talk as there is about the need for a 1C, what about the need to upgrade at the bottom of the forward group? — Danny S.
There’s no doubt the Wild could use an upgrade down there, but if they add a top-six center, Hartman or Yurov probably moves to wing in the bottom six, and Marcus Johansson drops down into a bottom-six role with Vladimir Tarasenko, Foligno, Yakov Trenin and Nico Sturm. The domino effect caused by a top-six addition would trigger the bottom-six upgrade.
We hear that Shane Wright is available. It is not every day that a center who was drafted fourth overall is available. — Brandon F.
Trades for young guys like Wright or Adam Fantilli would make a lot of sense for the Wild of yesteryear, but they’re in win-now mode — in the market for established and true current No. 1’s, not future No. 1’s.