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Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
After tonight\u2019s slate of NHL games are played, the National Hockey League will freeze its 2025-26 regular season so many its best players can fly to Milan, Italy, for the 2026 Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
The Minnesota Wild have more players going overseas than most organization, with eight<\/a>. Their president of hockey operations, Bill Guerin, also happens to be<\/a> Team USA\u2019s general manager. Wild head coach Jon Hynes, is one of the team\u2019s assistants<\/a>, under Mike Sullivan (Rangers HC).<\/p>\n With the regular season Olympic break, will come a freeze in NHL operations<\/a>. In fact, trades will not be allowed starting today (Feb. 4) at 2 p.m. CST, until February 22 at 10:59 p.m. CST.<\/p>\n Bill Guerin focused on the Olympics<\/p>\n If you are hoping Bill Guerin will bust through with another blockbuster trade, before the freeze begins, don\u2019t hold your breath. When asked by KFAN radio host Dan Barreiro<\/a> on Monday afternoon<\/a>, which of his teams was weighing most on his mind this week, Guerin pretty much admitted his mind is already in Milan.<\/p>\n At this point, do you feel greater pressure as the president of hockey operations for the Minnesota Wild or as the guy, the architect, the guy in charge of whatever happens in Milan during the Winter Olympics for the US Hockey Team.<\/p>\n Oh man, some days I feel like I\u2019m double tipping on that. Yes, but yeah, I think right now, probably for the Olympics, just because you know what, there\u2019s been so much build up and we\u2019ve been waiting for this for so long and it\u2019s and it\u2019s finally here, and it\u2019s the short it\u2019s a short tournament, so we gotta be ready and hit the ground running and and ready to go. So I think more more pressure for that right now.<\/p>\n Bill Guerin \u2013 KFAN<\/a><\/p>\n More importantly, with so many players participating in Milan, I can\u2019t imagine the Minnesota Wild would be comfortable making a deal before they know how many of those players come back healthy.<\/p>\n But even once the Olympics are over, and Guerin turns his attention back to the NHL trade deadline, there\u2019s no guarantee another big trade takes place before the trade deadline hits two weeks later, on March 6.<\/p>\n Minnesota Wild focused on patience before trade deadline?<\/p>\n One day after his chat with KFAN, Guerin sat down with Joe Smith (The Athletic)<\/a> on his \u201cFellowship of the Rink\u201d podcast. In that interview, Minnesota\u2019s PoHO looked beyond the Olympic break and toward the all-important trade deadline.<\/p>\n And while it\u2019s clear Billy is still determined to make the Wild better before their stretch run\u2026 he\u2019s even more absolute in his mission to avoid a mistake that haunts his hockey team beyond this upcoming summer.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Smith: \u2018What\u2019s the balance of being in win-now mode vs staying patient to make sure you don\u2019t make a mistake or miss out on something better?\u2019<\/p>\n Guerin: \u201cThat\u2019s a really good question, because that\u2019s probably the biggest thing that goes through my brain all the time is, \u2018Patience, patience, patience.\u2019 And if it doesn\u2019t happen now, maybe it\u2019s not meant to be? Maybe there\u2019s something bigger in the summer?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have to look at the history of things to help me be patient. I\u2019ve always said, \u2018No knee-jerk moves.\u2019 I\u2019m not always true to myself on that. But I try to be. We really try to weigh the pros and cons.\u201d<\/p>\n Fellowship of the Rink Podcast<\/a><\/p>\n Make no mistake about it, the Minnesota Wild are still looking for a forward to put them over the top in the Western Conference. Guerin says they\u2019d love to get their hands on a top center. Of course, so would every other team in the league.<\/p>\n He pointed to the Hughes deal, making it clear that he passed on other opportunities to improve the MN Wild, before he got an opportunity to move in on the franchise\u2019s newest superstar.<\/p>\n MN Wild still trying to add forward help<\/p>\n Does that mean, if Guerin doesn\u2019t get an opportunity at another young, blue-chip superstar between February 22 and March 6 that he won\u2019t make a deal at all? It\u2019s hard to say.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to add a forward at some point in time if it makes sense, and if we can do it. It\u2019s always talked about, with our team about adding a center. Of course, we\u2019d love to have a center. I think 32 teams in the league would love to add a center.<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t do it, maybe we pivot to a wing. But it all really just has to make sense, when we\u2019re doing it. You know me, I like to be aggressive but I like to be smart too, which isn\u2019t always the easiest thing for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Bill Guerin \u2013 Fellowship of the Rink Podcast<\/a><\/p>\n One thing we know for sure is that the MN Wild are running low on trade assets. If Billy can\u2019t get enough forward talent back in exchange for Jesper Wallstedt<\/a> or Charlie Strammel before March 6\u2026 is this team really going to enter the postseason with a roster that looks extremely similar to how it does now?<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible\u2026 but most insiders still expect Billy to do SOMETHING<\/a>, even if it isn\u2019t blockbuster-worthy. Of course, injuries in Milan for the Minnesota Wild, or other teams, could completely change the outlook, come February 22.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Bill Guerin<\/a> NHL Trade Deadline<\/a> <\/p>\n More About:Minnesota Wild<\/a><\/p>\n
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