Does Billy G need to pick up the phone one more time?
by T.R. Holler, Let’s Play Hockey
The post Quinn Hughes deal has vaulted our Minnesota Wild into conversations of deep playoff run possibiliites, heck, even a run at hoisting the Cup according to a select few. After all, as it stands currently, the Wild are second overall – in the entire NHL. Ironically, that also means second place in their own division, thanks to the continued juggernaut of the Colorado Avalanche.
Since ‘Quinnesota’ took us by storm in mid-December, the Wild are a Western Conference best 16-5-5, rank as the NHL’s highest scoring team, and wrapped up their 10 games prior the Olympic break with a record of 8-1-1 and are on pace for a 107-point season. Geez, is that right? It is.
Ok, but this is Minnesota. The ‘Sota sports landscape is one of delicious appetizers followed by stale, over-priced entrees and thus, no dessert for us. Ho-hum.
But here we are, the Wild are 34-14-10 with 78 points and in second place in the central of the NHL’s western conference and slated to face, yet again, the Dallas Stars. This time, it will be different, it just has to be. IF the Wild’s Olympic participants return healthy, wealthy, and wise then Wild GM, Bill Guerin, will need to jump on the phones and pull the proverbial rabbit from the hat, or does he? Good as Dallas still is, there is a kink in the Stars armor with their collective firepower down a notch this season.
If your team is considered close to a Cup run you make a move to help ensure that possibility, right? Of course. In the collective mindset, this belongs to the Avs, Stars, Golden Knights, and the Oilers, right? Not so much. Not this year. Due to aging and injury, the only given in the Western Conference is the Avs, so on paper, this scenario falls onto the Wild – then again, as you’re second in the league and all parts are healthy and gelling then is making a move really the juice that’s worth the squeeze? Debatable. A 50/50 hockey trade is nice, but do you upset the current chemistry, puck flow, and jumble the lines in what will be six weeks out from the playoffs? We tend to prefer the proverbial “no breaky, no fixy” rule of thumb.
We think, barring the availability of a true game-breaker like say – Ottawa centerman, Tim Stutzle, then all bets are off, and this article is rendered moot – put the chips in and move those assets and hey, let’s make a deal! Outside that top-tier, 1C talent we do not recommend shipping away more assets as the Wild have jettisoned multiple 1st and 2nd round picks and AHL pipeline players in return for David Jiricek and Quinnesota in last two seasons. Lose some, win some. Par for the course round these parts.
The second-tier option for the Wild is a less splashy move in a two-way player like Vincent Trocheck (NYR) or Robert Thomas (STL) for say Jiricek, Stramel and a draft pick. Ok, not bad. We can live with that, but barely so. Do we truly want to see Charlie Stramel, after his meteoric rise at Michigan State and tantalizing future depart for St. Louis? No, we do not.
The Wild do have some intriguing centerman prospects, with the coveted size and grit in both a Charlie Stramel and Reiger Lorenz (Univ. of Denver) both of which will be fascinating training camp prospects this fall, and of course, rostered centerman, Danila Yurov, who improves weekly.
Whatever Billy Guerin decides, the move should be for the best available player with size, grit and scoring punch withoutgiving away too many assets, especially our depth goalie and fan favorite Jesper ‘Pink Floyd’ Wallstedt. But Wallstedt is our premier prospect and any stud 1C will require parting with Pink Floyd. That said, we have a feeling that we will need two goalies moving forward this year and foreseeable future otherwise, we will end up where we were post-Cam Talbot era, starting all over again for goalie talent after not having moved the playoff needle. Samuel Hlavaj and Chase Wutzke are decent goalie prospects but are undoubtedly not NHL-ready. Again, no breaky? No fixy.
Currently, the Wild are solid in net and have a good start on framing their back-end blue line and depth forwards, it’s the center of the ice that needs stronger play and size/length. If a Stutzle, Dylan Larkin (DET), Elias Pettersson (VAN) or dare we say Sebastian Aho (CAR) can be dealt? Let’s roll! Otherwise, if it’s down to J.T. Miller (NYR), Vincent Trocheck (NYR) or Robert Thomas (STL)? Hold steady and regroup for July 1 with a wider net as we don’t believe those players are true needle movers. Nice-to-haves? No question, solid two-way players, and skilled faceoff guys, but not Quinn Hughes gamechangers either, not for the Wild’s multiple assets and Pink Floyd.
The Wild’s recent propensity for undersized draft picks with upside needs to cease and desist. All good for now, boys. Hey, as much as we like prospects F – Adam Benak and D- Aron Kiviharju, especially after their respective showing at World Juniors, but both are awaiting their acceptance into the Lollipop Guild. The Wild need the size/speed combo that the Avs, Jets, and Golden Knights possess, not to mention that Anaheim and Utah are building their teams in similar fashion – this is the blueprint for playoff success. Even young, rebuilding teams like San Jose and Chicago, albeit built like the Wild, are starting to close the talent gap and will soon be nipping at our Bauer Vapor HyperLites.
Before we further complicate what the Wild should do post-Olympic break and end up contradicting ourselves, let’s leave Billy G with simple, sage advice:
ATTN Billy G: If we get all Wild Olympic participants back healthy as we drop the puck on Thursday, February 26, coincidentally at Colorado, let’s stand pat and let the world turn – as there’s breathable time until the trade deadline of March 6. Over those 9 days let teams approach us, you’ve earned the negotiating high-ground, and if nothing truly moves the needle without future mortgaging of prospects let’s remember that sometimes – the best move? Is no move at all.
See what the 2026 playoffs tells us post-Hughes, good or bad, then show Quinnesota that we aim to keep building with calculated risk, re-sign him long-term and restock the cupboard with a 1C, middle-six depth, and perhaps shoring up the third pair D-corps. Post-2026 NHL draft you will have further assets and be able to enjoy the July 1 free agency market with wider variety of players and options to shape the Wild long-term as a true free agent destination. Billy G, post-July 1, you will have even more assets for truly masterful, long-term moves as we celebrate the Fourth of July, our 250th year as a country, with a summer BBQ complete with that delicious appetizer, satisfying entrée, and even room for some apple pie for dessert.
Now there’s finally a recipe for success round these parts.
