Minnesota Wild: Top 3 players they should trade at the deadline

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According to Darren Dreger of TSN, the Minnesota Wild are going to be sellers at the NHL trade deadline. Which players are they likely going to move?

The Minnesota Wild are participating in their annual flirtation with mediocrity. They’re too good to get a great draft pick, but not good enough to be Stanley Cup contenders. However, that could change if the Wild decide to start rebuilding. According to the latest NHL trade rumors, that’s a distinct possibility.

“I’m told that [Wild general manager] Bill Guerin is open for business,” said NHL insider Darren Dreger in TSN‘s latest Insider Trading segment.

The Wild seem to be open to rebuilding, which fans are surely pleased by. For years, the Wild have tried to contend with a roster that just isn’t good enough to actually contend. General Manager Bill Guerin seems to have made his decision on what they’re going to do. And that answer is to rebuild by trying to get assets for players who don’t fit into their long-term plans.

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This list is only going to consist of players who I think they will trade, not necessarily who they should trade. For example, should the Wild trade Zach Parise and Ryan Suter? You bet. Will they? Probably not. Nobody wants to touch those insanely long deals that have five years left each. Plus they have full no-movement clauses.

If the Wild want to rebuild, they’ll have to make some painful decisions. Some popular players will have to be moved out. Pretty much everyone should be on the table for the Wild at this point. Especially since the 2020 NHL Draft figures to be one of the deepest in recent memory.

So which players will the Minnesota Wild likely trade before the NHL trade deadline in February? Let’s take a look.

3. Jason Zucker

Cap hit: $5.5 million

Term: 3 more years after 2019-20 season

Clauses: Modified no-traude clause (10-team no-trade list)

The Minnesota Wild have already tried to trade Jason Zucker more than once. A rumored deal with the Calgary Flames fell through at the 2019 trade deadline. In the summer of 2019, a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins that would have sent Phil Kessel to Minnesota and Zucker to Pittsburgh was rejected by Kessel.

Though Guerin wasn’t the general manager for either of those attempts, it’s understandable if Zucker is sick of it. If he wanted to be traded, I wouldn’t blame him one bit. Zucker recently missed some time due to an injury, but he returned on Jan. 12.

This season, he has 12 goals and 24 points in 36 games despite playing on a team that ranks 21st in scoring. Zucker has a very affordable cap hit and a good amount of term left on his deal. Those two factors could lead to the Wild getting a significant haul for him.

Usually, an NTC limits a player’s suitors. However, considering how fed up Zucker has to be with the Wild nearly trading him twice in the past 12 months, it’s likely he’ll be willing to be traded to one of those 10 teams he has on his no-trade list.

Potential Suitors

As mentioned before, both the Flames and Penguins nearly traded for him earlier. Currently, both teams are looking to add a top-six forward. His term would make things a little bit complicated, but Zucker would still be a terrific fit on either team.

Keep an eye on the Edmonton Oiler as well. Much like the Flames, they’re looking to add a top-six forward. They’d prefer to do it for cheap too. Zucker could fit the bill, especially if the Oilers are willing to part with defenseman Darnell Nurse, who’s likely going to get a fairly significant raise this offseason.

2. Mikko Koivu

Cap hit: $5.5 million

Term: UFA after the 2019-20 season

Clauses: Full no-movement clause

This will be a tough one for the Minnesota Wild. Mikko Koivu is arguably the greatest player in franchise history. He’s their all-time leader in games played, assists, points, and plus-minus. Additionally, Koivu is second in career goals, trailing only the eternally underappreciated Marian Gaborik. He has also been their captain since the start of the 2008-09 season and was the second first-round pick in franchise history.

It’s never easy to trade someone like Koivu. When you think of the Wild, he’s the first player who comes to mind. Koivu has never known another franchise, as the Wild are the only NHL team he has ever played for.

However, it’s clear they won’t be contending this year. The Wild owe it to Koivu to at least ask him if he’d like to be traded. And since he has a no-movement clause, they’d have to do that to trade him anyway.

A Stanley Cup would be the crowning achievement of Koivu’s career. It might even get him into the Hall of Fame conversation. Koivu might not be as good as he once was, as he has just 13 points in 34 games. But he’s still capable of providing the kind of leadership contenders look for this time of the season.

Potential Fits

The Oilers would make sense, as Koivu could help them end their revolving door of third-line centers. Though the Colorado Avalanche are likely searching for a bigger fish in the trade market pond, he’d make a bit of sense for them as well since they have so much cap space and they could use a veteran leader.

Koivu seems like the kind of player who Barry Trotz loves. He works hard, is reliable in his own zone, and can chip in some offense. The New York Islanders might kick the tires on him, though the Wild would likely have to retain some salary, especially if the Isles acquire a defenseman to replace Adam Pelech.

This isn’t a likely destination, but boy, wouldn’t it be awesome if the Montreal Canadiens traded for Koivu? His brother Saku Koivu is a legend in Montreal. I’m a sucker for a really good narrative and the Habs trading for Mikko Koivu would be one heck of a narrative.

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1. Mathew Dumba

Cap hit: $6 million

Term: 3 years remaining after the 2019-20 season

Clauses: Modified no-trade clause starting in 2021-22

The Minnesota Wild are going to entertain offers for star defenseman Mathew Dumba, according to Dreger. He was the only specific Wild player Dreger named during his Insider Trading segment. Trading Dumba would signify a true rebuild for the franchise. The Wild would be trading their best player.

They don’t have to rush a trade, as his modified NTC doesn’t start until July 1, 2021. However, trading Dumba now could net the Wild a significant haul that would help jumpstart their rebuild. It would make no sense to trade him for anything less than a huge haul, which is why the Wild might want to hold off unless Dumba heats up.

In 42 games this season, he has 13 points. That’s a pretty big decline from what he has done in recent seasons. Last season, Dumba put up 22 points in 32 games. The season before that, he had 50 points in 82 games.

Potential Fits

The thing about Dumba is there’s enough term left on his contract for it to make sense for a non-contending team to trade for him. I’m sure the Toronto Maple Leafs will at least call the Wild about him if he’s on the market. They could sure use someone with his two-way game and offensive prowess.

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My gut tells me the Washington Capitals could be a dark horse team for Dumba. Nick Jensen is struggling and Radko Gudas only has one year left on his deal, so Dumba could give the Capitals a more certain future on the right side. They’d have to get creative thanks to their cap space situation, though. The New Jersey Devils might be interested as well, depending on what they decide to do with P.K. Subban and Sami Vatanen.

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