Insider: Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin made the biggest splash on the trade market that we will see this NHL season, acquiring Quinn Hughes in a blockbuster deal with the Vancouver Canucks
. But sources say he is not done dealing just yet.
The cost of fortifying the blueline with a Norris Trophy winner—the second-best defender in the league—is losing a top-six center in the process. At least, that’s the role that Marco Rossi will certainly take on with the Canucks, as well as a spot on the top power play unit (if Saturday’s Vancouver practice session is an indication).
Guerin will now ramp up his search for help to fill up front, according to insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
- Before landing Hughes, the Wild were in the market for a forward to add some secondary scoring to the team. I believe Guerin will continue that search this season. Whether he pivots to a centre, I’m not sure yet.
The Wild currently rank 24th in the NHL in goals per game (2.81), so it’s no surprise that Guerin was, and will continue to be, on the hunt for some more offense. To say they’re top-heavy would be an understatement. Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov had accounted for nearly 40% of the team’s total goals going into Saturday’s play.
The team also ranked third-worst in the league in 5-on-5 goals (52) and tied for third-worst in shooting percentage (7.8%).
Finding some secondary scoring will certainly help, and Guerin will be on the lookout.
The Wild have been strongly linked to having interest in pending UFA Kiefer Sherwood. Will they try and go back to the well with Canucks GM Patrik Allvin and try to swing another deal? Other rumored names connected to the Wild over the course of this season have included some bigger targets, including Buffalo’s Alex Tuch, Calgary’s Nazem Kadri and Boston’s Pavel Zacha.
