The Minnesota Wild were surprisingly quiet around the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft and the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Heading into those two events, it was widely believed that the Wild would move at least one of their defensemen, with reports circulating that offers were in for Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba.
Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said that he’s more than willing to make a “hockey trade” if one presents itself, but without any offers he felt strongly about in place, the club elected to hold off on making a deal.
But, head coach Bruce Boudreau still believes that his team is going to make a trade.
Via the StarTribune:
“Something’s going to happen. I just don’t know what it is. Chuck’s playing his cards close to his vest. But I’ve got to believe something will happen. Whether it happens today or in a month from now, I don’t think he’s in a hurry unless he gets what he wants to get.”
Boudreau later admitted that he isn’t creative and isn’t able to think like many of the league’s GMs, but he still believes the Wild will make a deal at some point given their current structure. That’s a pretty logical thought considering the Wild still need to find new deals for a couple players (Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter) as well as create additional cap space for any other developing needs. That probably won’t happen unless a trade is made.
Despite the need for a trade, will one actually develop? That may depend on the price the Wild are asking, but so far that price hasn’t been revealed. With the head coach of the team publicly saying he thinks a trade is coming, it may place additional pressure on Fletcher to get one done.
