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NHL Trade Grade: Minnesota Wild trade Mikael Granlund to Predators

By Jasmine Yen

WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 20: Nino Niederreiter #22, Mikael Granlund #64 and Nate Prosser #39 of the Minnesota Wild get set during a third period face-off against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 20: Nino Niederreiter #22, Mikael Granlund #64 and Nate Prosser #39 of the Minnesota Wild get set during a third period face-off against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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As the trade deadline nears, the trades are piling in. The Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators have just made a substantial trade.

The Minnesota Wild have traded Mikael Granlund to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Kevin Fiala. This is a pretty big trade for both sides as the Nashville Predators try and bolster their Stanley Cup contending team and Minnesota tries to keep their playoff hopes alive while improving their future.

Here’s a quick break down of what this trade means.

What Minnesota gets:

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The Minnesota Wild are one of the lowest scoring teams in the league. They are currently 26th in the league in goals per game at 2.7.

Granlund is a playmaker and a passer first. His shot isn’t that remarkable but his passing is. However, that is not what the Wild need. Minnesota needs scorers. They need more offense to support Devan Dubnyk and that’s exactly what Kevin Fiala brings.

Fiala is a great player at even strength and will help the Wild out on the powerplay as well. Plus, Fiala is only 22 years old and is on the last year of his entry-level contract. This opens up cap space for the Wild as well as adds youth to their aging team.

What Nashville gets:

Nashville gets Granlund, an established playmaker in the NHL and a terrific addition to the Predators’ lineup. Offensive depth is always a good thing and now the Predators have a piece that will bolster their second line and give them three solid lines to deploy the playoffs.

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Most of the Predators’ offense has come from their defencemen but after the acquisition of Granlund, things are about to change. In 63 games played, Granlund has 15 goals and 34 assists. He will be helpful both at even strength and on the powerplay. The Predators have the worst powerplay in the league with a success rate of just 12.6%, but with a playmaker like Granlund on the first unit, it won’t be that bad for long.

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