Welcome back for episode three of Meet the Buyers series, and after diving into the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers as potential trade partners for the Toronto Maple Leafs, we stay in the Western Conference to showcase the Minnesota Wild.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin has already pulled off the trade-of-the-season, landing defenceman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. Guerin was aggressive with his first offer on Hughes, and it paid off in a major way, as the former Norris trophy winner has fit in perfectly in Minnesota.
Don’t be surprised to see the Wild make another move ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. Guerin’s in the market, looking for top-nine forwards who will upgrade his lineup heading into what the team hopes is a very long Stanley Cup Playoff run. Guerin must feel like a free bird after many years having to deal with expensive dead-cap hits from buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, and now the Wild head into the 2026 trade deadline with over $12 million available. Yes, Kirill Kaprizov’s salary almost doubles next season, but that doesn’t mean Guerin can’t get creative, as he looks to do whatever he can to push his team over the hump.
Insert the Maple Leafs, and general manager Brad Treliving. It’s very likely the Maple Leafs wait until closer to deadline day before they make any significant decisions with their roster. Word is ownership wants to push for the playoffs, so don’t expect to see Treliving selling off his trade assets until as close to Mar. 6 as possible.
The Maple Leafs have several trade candidates the Wild would likely consider adding to their forward group, including Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, and Nicolas Roy. McMann makes the most sense, as his speed, finishing abilities, and physicality mix in perfectly with their style of play. He’s emerging as Treliving’s best trade assets based on his skillset, and the fact he’s making just $1.3 million AAV. What exactly Treliving can land for the speedy winger becomes the biggest question heading into deadline day.
Wild limited trade assets may not mesh with Maple Leafs
There’s growing speculation that the Wild have offered goaltender Jesper Wallstedt in trade offers looking to land a top-line forward. Wallstedt would be a massive get for the Maple Leafs, however, with Joseph Woll, Anthony Stolarz, and Dennis Hildeby in the mix, the crease is already crowded enough.
The Wild don’t have a first or second-round pick in 2026, thanks to previous deals, so if McMann heads to Minnesota, who exactly is coming back the other way? Ryan Hartman is an interesting trade candidate, as his name has been out there throughout this season, and his style of play screams Craig Berube. Hartman, 31, is signed through next season at $4 million AAV, he owns a 15-team no-trade clause, and in 54 games this season before the Olympic break, the pesky forward scored 14 goals, and 26 points.
Hartman’s an interesting trade candidate as he’s shown he’s capable of scoring 30-plus goals, he’s shown he’s capable of being a two-way force at both ends of the rink, but unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to consistently deliver in Minnesota, leaving Guerin and company wanting more.
The Maple Leafs are likely going to have interest in right-handed forwards, as after William Nylander, and potentially Nic Roy, they won’t have any back next season. It’s a weird fine detail that does have a significant impact on the lineup, and frankly, the Leafs need more balance heading into next season. Hartman would be an interesting add, and someone who can give Berube more lineup flexibility on a nightly basis.
If the Maple Leafs and Wild do business together before the deadline, Treliving should check in to see if defensive prospects David Jiricek or David Spacek are available. They’re two right-handed blueliners, who at 22 and 23 years old, could be very intriguing additions in Toronto.
Jiricek was a former sixth-overall pick in 2023, so the price tag could be substantial, however, with his zero points in 25 games with the Wild this season and a bit of an underwhelming performance, Jiricek is down in the American Hockey League, and likely being included in trade conversations heading into the deadline. The 6-foot-4 blueliner has tons of potential and should be someone Treliving is wondering about if conversations advance with Guerin, and the Wild’s brass. The Maple Leafs would have to start the conversation with McMann and Brandon Carlo to get Guerin’s attention.
Spacek, on the other hand, is slightly older, he’s put up 20 points in 37 AHL games this season, and he’s also enjoyed two games with the big club, his first two NHL contests of his career, after being selected in fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Spacek’s four inches smaller than Jiricek and plays a very different style, using his speed and skill to impact the game at both ends of the rink. Both would be major upgrades for the Maple Leafs defensive prospect group, as it’s as their prospect pool is as thin as anyone in the league at the moment.
The Wild will be buying ahead of the trade deadline, but don’t necessarily fit perfectly as trade partners for the Maple Leafs, so it will be interesting to see if a deal comes to fruition, who all is included. It feels like, if a transaction is completed before the afternoon of March 6, expect to see the Wild zone in on McMann, and potentially Scott Laughton heading to Minnesota.
PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE
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