Wild Weigh Options as Trade Deadline Approaches, Balancing Present and Future
The Minnesota Wild are navigating a delicate balance between capitalizing on their current roster and preserving assets for future success as the March 6 NHL trade deadline nears. According to Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin, the team is firmly in “win-now mode” following the acquisition of Quinn Hughes in mid-December, but acknowledges limited trade chips remain.
Guerin, known for his aggressive approach to team building, told The Athletic he is motivated to make another move. However, the cost of acquiring Hughes – a first-round pick and top prospects Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren – has significantly depleted the team’s pool of high-end trade assets.
“Absolutely, [I’m motivated to make another move],” Guerin said. “I like being aggressive. Likes bold moves.”
While Charlie Stramel and Jesper Wallstedt remain possibilities in a trade, Guerin emphasized the unique value of those players. “You can only trade those guys once,” he noted.
The question of whether to pursue a significant trade now or wait until the summer is a constant consideration for Guerin. He expressed a need for patience, acknowledging that opportunities can arise unexpectedly, as was the case with Hughes.
“That’s probably the biggest thing that goes through my brain all the time is, ‘Patience, patience, patience,’” Guerin said on the “Fellowship of the Rink” podcast. “And if it doesn’t happen now, maybe it’s not meant to be? Maybe there’s something bigger in the summer?”
Guerin indicated a desire to add a forward, specifically a center, if a suitable opportunity presents itself. “I’d like to add a forward at some point in time if it makes sense,” he said. “If we can do it. It’s always talked about, with our team, adding a center.”
New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck has been identified as a player who could potentially fill that role, and the Wild are “canvassing their options” among other centers and forwards on the market.
Despite his inclination towards aggressive moves, Guerin stressed the importance of making smart decisions. He relies on a team of advisors to provide counsel and prevent “knee-jerk moves.”
“You know me. I like to be aggressive. But I like to try to be smart,” Guerin said. “It’s not always the easiest thing for me. But I have really smart people around me and guys who aren’t afraid to tell me, ‘No,’ or, ‘Don’t do this,’ or, ‘Maybe try this.’”
Guerin dismissed the notion of having “untouchable” players, citing examples of even legendary players like Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier being traded during their careers. However, he emphasized the need to carefully evaluate any potential trade, considering both the player being acquired and the impact on the team.
“Nobody is untouchable,” Guerin said. “But you always have to think of who you’re actually getting and what that’s doing for your team.”
With the NHL trade freeze set to begin at 2 p.m. CST today, , in preparation for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan, Guerin’s immediate focus will shift to his role as General Manager of Team USA. He acknowledged the difficulty of making roster decisions for the Olympic team, having to leave off deserving players like Jason Robertson, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson.
“I think leaving some players off — players that deserve maybe better,” Guerin said. “But we have to build a team. We have to fill roles. We have to do all those things.”
Guerin also defended his selections, highlighting the versatility and specific skills of the players he chose, such as their penalty-killing abilities and faceoff proficiency.
