Minnesota Wild Eye Trades As Free Agency Approaches

ST. PAUL, Minn. — With a week to go until the NHL draft, Minnesota Wild president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin is actively exploring trade opportunities.

The Wild are poised to enter their 25th season with nearly $16 million in cap space, thanks in part to the decreasing penalties from the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Fans expect Guerin to make impactful moves as they anticipate roster changes.

However, the free-agent market is dwindling. Initially, Guerin aimed to pursue center Brock Nelson, but he re-signed with the Colorado Avalanche. Notably, Ryan Donato and Matt Duchene have also re-committed to their current teams, further limiting options for the Wild.

Both Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett and Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares are pending free agents, yet there’s a strong possibility they will remain with their respective teams. This leaves Minnesota looking at trade scenarios as their best option to bolster the roster.

Among the players speculated for trade is Marco Rossi, the team’s 2020 No. 9 overall pick. With Rossi’s restricted free agency beginning July 1, there is urgency for the Wild to act. Talks have stalled as Rossi rejected a five-year, $25 million extension and hasn’t accepted recent offers.

Guerin is determined to secure a trade that would net an NHL player capable of compensating for the projected loss of Rossi’s 60 points. There’s keen interest in Buffalo Sabres’ JJ Peterka, who the Wild believe could fit this role.

However, it appears that Guerin has mainly received offers for future draft picks rather than specific players, which may lead to difficulties in negotiations. Tensions are rising as the team must evaluate how to move forward with Rossi.

With limited movement in the center position, it appears the Wild might have to reconsider their stance on keeping Rossi, particularly if they cannot land a comparable player in the market. This offseason could prove to be a pivotal moment for the organization, ideally resolving these trade discussions before July 1.