3 Trade Targets For Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are not done making additions to their team to get better before the trade deadline this season. They already picked up Quinn Hughes for a haul and it has worked out nicely, but the forward group needs more work.
The Wild have some cap space to work with, and whether they end up bringing in someone on for the short term or long term, they are looking at some bigger names who can make an impact. On The Athletic, it said, "Claude Giroux, Robert Thomas, and Shane Pinto could be players the Wild check in on."
These all make sense as they are center options, and the Wild need to bolster their center ice position and add more scoring. Pinto in particular may be pushed out of the Ottawa Senators because Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens, both strong top-6 centers, have it locked down there. Pinto, at best, is centering the third line, and he's shown that his abilities surpass that, he's young, and he can be dynamic with the stellar start he had to the season.
Pinto has a cap hit of $3.75 million AAV for the remainder of this season and is signed for four more years at $7.5 million AAV with no trade protection for the first couple of seasons. It just so happens the Wild are likely dangling Jesper Wallstedt out there in a trade to upgrade in a big way. The Senators have the seventh-most goals against per game and that is where they have to upgrade. This type of 1-for-1 may even work.
Giroux is a UFA after the season and is getting old. If the Senators aren't going to compete for a playoff spot this season, and they are out of it as it stands, then the team can get something for the veteran. It won't be Wallstedt, but Giroux can still be of help with 10 goals and 37 points in 53 games and under contract for a cheap $2 million AAV. He would have to accept a trade, but near the end of his career without a Stanley Cup, he would welcome a trade and a chance on a contender.
Lastly, Thomas would be a huge one that again, Wallstedt could be used to acquire. The St. Louis Blues are going to be making changes, and Thomas could be one of them. Wallstedt is a great age and could tandem with Joel Hofer to create great stability and competition going forward. Thomas is having a down season offensively due to being on the Blues, but he has 11 goals and 33 points in 42 games this season and is easily a top-6 center at a good price of $8.125 million AAV for five more years.
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