Current Season Overview
As the Minnesota Wild embarked on their current NHL season, aspirations were high for a potential run at the Stanley Cup. This optimism was amplified by the early re-signing of their star left winger, Kirill Kaprizov, who secured an eight-year contract extension. However, heading into November, the Wild find themselves languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Trade Options and Roster Improvements
With the season still young, General Manager Bill Guerin is reportedly exploring trade options to boost the roster’s performance. Recent reports from Daily Faceoff‘s Anthony Di Marco indicated that Guerin is actively seeking a forward to enhance the scoring capabilities of the team’s middle six forwards. Candidates include Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames as well as Boston Bruins’ forwards Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt.
While both Zacha and Mittelstadt could be more affordable options due to their age and salary compared to Kadri, both the Flames and Bruins remain committed to their current rosters as they navigate their respective seasons. Should either player become available, it would likely happen later in the season, potentially too late for the Wild to benefit.
Concerns about Guerin’s ability to execute a significant trade that would yield instant results for the team have been voiced by Joe Smith and Michael Russo from The Athletic. They suggest that with the scarcity of available talent, the Wild may need to focus on internal improvements rather than relying on external acquisitions.
Other Trade Discussions
In other trade discussions, the Boston Bruins are continuing to face challenges, keeping Zacha’s name in the rumor mill, alongside Yegor Chinakhov from the Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues exhibit patience as they assess their core players.
Buffalo Sabres Goaltending Situation
On the other side, problems are brewing for the Buffalo Sabres regarding their young goaltending prospect Devon Levi. Once heralded as the goalie of the future, Levi has faced obstacles in claiming a spot in the lineup. Insights shared on the After The Whistle podcast, led by ex-NHL players Craig Rivet and Andrew Peters, suggested that Levi may have sought a trade before being sent back to the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester.
As of now, however, there have been no confirmed reports backing this claim or any indication that the Sabres are actively shopping him around, which is an interesting development given the shortage of goalie options available in the current trade market.
