As the draft approaches, what we’re hearing about the Wild: potential trade targets, pick swaps and more

LAS VEGAS – The Minnesota Wild’s expanded front office, large team of scouts and owner Craig Leipold went out for a steak dinner Thursday night and will be up early Friday morning to make their final preparations for the NHL Draft, which should be an extraordinary event. . Great area.

The first round is Friday night, the second through seventh rounds are on Saturday, with the Wild currently having the 13th selection, plus a second-rounder, fourth-rounder, two fifth-rounders and a sixth-rounder.

Of course, potential trades in the draft and preparation for free agency are also front of mind. That’s what I’m hearing from team and league sources on all three fronts.

Minnesota would likely be willing to trade the 13th pick outright, especially if it were to the Winnipeg Jets for University of Michigan standout Rutger McGroarty. There is no doubt that the Wild, like many teams, are talking to the Jets about the 2022 14th pick, who reportedly does not want to sign with Winnipeg.

If all the options on their list are of equal stature when they reach round 13, the Wild are willing to move down in the draft to get an additional second-round pick.

The Buffalo Sabers and San Jose Sharks used a similar template on Thursday when the Sharks moved up three spots to No. 11, leaving the Sabers at 14th and 42nd. The Chicago Blackhawks, who own the second pick on the second day of the draft, look to be a good option for that type of move for the Wild, with Chicago also having the 18th pick.

“I mean, yes, there’s a chance,” president and general manager of hockey operations Bill Guerin said Thursday. “I don’t know what the chances are, but if someone wants to do it, and it makes sense to us, we’ll do it. But we are happy even at the age of 13.”

The Wild continue to talk to teams about goaltender Filip Gustavsson, but they are also quite comfortable keeping Gustavsson if they can’t make a trade. They’re not going to give him up and have reason to keep him, as there are serious questions over whether 39-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury and 21-year-old rookie Jesper Wallstad can play more than the next half of the game. Season.

If Gustavsson is not traded, Wallstedt will start in AHL Iowa, with the plan being that he will get starts throughout the season in Minnesota.

The Wild also plan to be in the market for a middle-six winger this season if they don’t get a player like McGroarty, who will likely sign with whichever team he trades him to and start next season in the NHL. Will do.

While there will be free agents they pursue, they may also hit the trade market and pursue wingers that way. One player who could make sense is 26-year-old scorer Patrik Laine of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who is looking for a fresh start. However, the only way this could work with the Wild’s cap situation is if the Blue Jackets eat about half of his $8.7 million cap hit for the next two years. The Wild could acquire him for $4.35 million, especially if Columbus moved back a rostered player.

Guerin acknowledged it would be difficult to make a significant trade with the little flexibility he has.

“I’ve poked around,” Guerin said. “It’s a little strange. You’ve poked around, and you get here and it’s pretty quiet. But (Friday) is usually that day, right? Either way, I still like the makeup of our team. We can (trade or sign a free agent), but we need to get our identity back. We need to get our swag back. We need to get back to the way we are able to play, but with our own identity. This is the biggest thing for me.

“We have players who have had poor performances over the years. And, look, it happens – like, we all understand it. But we need them to bounce back. We have guys who are proven scorers who haven’t scored as much as they should have. We need it.

“Health is also a big thing. and you know what? Our beginning. We have to be more ready to go at the start of the season.

Guerin said he likes the starting schedule he sees for the Wild next season. The NHL is expected to make the announcement Tuesday.

Faber, Rossi make All-Rookie team

Brock Faber and Marco Rossi, who finished runner-up to Connor Bedard for the Calder Trophy on Thursday, earned spots on the All-Rookie team. Rossi was honored by PHWA voters for his 21-goal season.

Rossi also received an additional $212,500 performance bonus for the honor and has now earned a $637,500 bonus. Because the Wild were over the cap, they will receive overage for the same amount the following season. It’s sad to think that they already have $14.7 million in excess money to acquire Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

Assuming Liam Ohgren and Marat Khusnutdinov make the team, the Wild now have $6,787,246 in cap space next season. This does not include the eventual re-signing of restricted free agent Declan Chisholm.

This has been expected for some time, but according to a league source, the Wild have informed heartthrob forward Mason Shaw that he will not be extended a qualifying offer by Sunday’s 4 p.m. deadline. This means the restricted free agent will become an unrestricted free agent at 11 a.m. Monday and can sign with another team. Shaw returned from his fourth career torn ACL last season.

In addition to Chisholm, the Wild’s other RFAs are Graeme Clarke, Dmitry Ovchinnikov, Adam Raska, Sammy Walker, Hunter Jones and Simon Johansson.

There’s a good bet the Wild have dropped a few more of these. In fact, Johansson has also been informed that she will not be interrogated, her agent said. athletic on Thursday.

(Photo by Patrick Laine: Bailey Hillesheim/Getty Images)