When general manager Bill Guerin acquired defenseman Quinn Hughes for a king’s ransom in December, it signaled to fans that the team was finally going all in. Now, after losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the second round in only five games, it’s back to the drawing board for Guerin and the Wild.
It’s hard to call the season a failure for the Wild, who reached the second round for the first time in 11 years. The buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter ate up to $14 million of the Wild’s salary cap, with that number peaking in the 2024-25 season, making it nearly impossible to build a Cup-contending roster. That number is now only $1.6 million, and will remain on the books until 2028-29.
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Contending teams are built down the middle
In their five-game series against the Avalanche, the need for a center became increasingly evident. With Joel Eriksson Ek missing the entire series with a lower-body injury, it left Ryan Hartman and Michael McCarron to fill in the top two center spots.
Hartman and McCarron are serviceable third-line centers, but were both out of their element against an Avalanche squad with a loaded center group. Nathan MacKinnon took complete advantage of the matchups, registering 5 goals and 9 points in the series, both numbers outproducing the Wild’s top two centers combined.
Eriksson Ek’s presence certainly would have made a difference, but the need for a bona fide star center remains. The 29-year-old has established himself as a consistent 60-point center with a strong two-way game, and he can certainly be a second-line center on a contending team.
History backs that sentiment, as the last Stanley Cup champion without a center who had eclipsed the 70-point mark in their career was the 1961 Chicago Black Hawks, back when teams only played 70 games in a season.
A solution may come from within the division
Looking at past Stanley Cup contenders, the solution will likely have to come via trade. The Jack Eichel trade to Las Vegas is one Guerin should look to emulate, and that sort of aggressive move certainly aligns with some of his recent transactions.
The best fit may be Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, whose name has circulated in trade talks as the Blues look to rebuild. Long-time general manager Doug Armstrong will pass the role down to Alexander Steen on July 1, which may make a move more likely as the franchise enters a new era.
Thomas, 26, has solidified himself as a point-per-game center while becoming one of the top defensive forwards in the league. His cerebral playmaking alongside Kirill Kaprizov would make for one of the league’s more lethal forward duos. His $8.125 million cap hit is also a great value, which is crucial for a team that just signed the NHL’s largest contract by AAV and still needs to extend Hughes.
Dylan Larkin’s trade request makes him another name to watch for Minnesota, but the 29-year-old is more expensive, older, and worse on both sides of the ice than Thomas.
What would Thomas cost?
It’s hard to project a return for Thomas, as players of his caliber and age are rarely available for trade. According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Wild offered a package that included Danila Yurov and Jesper Wallstedt for Thomas at this year’s deadline, but the Blues declined.
It’s safe to say Wallstedt is no longer up for trade after stealing the crease in the playoffs, but Yurov is definitely a piece to build a potential trade around.
The 22-year-old recorded 27 points in 73 games in his rookie season, along with three points in nine games throughout the playoffs. Yurov possesses above-average skating ability and uses every bit of his 6-foot-2 frame on the forecheck. His decision-making hasn’t caught up to the speed of the NHL, but he has all the tools to become an effective second-line forward.
Filip Gustavsson could be an intriguing piece for the Blues if they decide to ship off veteran goaltender Jordan Binnington this summer. His talent is undeniable, but his role on the team has become smaller with the emergence of Wallstedt, making a trade more likely.
One of the Wild’s first-round picks from the next three seasons and a mid-level prospect could sweeten the deal, but the price could rise depending on competing offers.
Time is ticking for the Wild
With a center core of Thomas, Eriksson Ek, and Hartman, the Wild would enter the upper echelon of Stanley Cup contenders. Guerin will eventually need to find replacements for both Mats Zuccarello and Vladimir Tarasenko, who are on the wrong side of 30.
Guerin’s main priority this offseason will be convincing Hughes that the team is committed to winning. The superstar is eligible to enter unrestricted free agency next summer. If the hole at center remains unfilled, Hughes may be enticed to join his brothers in New Jersey.
