The NHL trade deadline is coming this week, with few teams qualifying as clear sellers with no hope for a playoff spot. The Arizona Coyotes are one of those clear trade deadline sellers though, with 51 points, and multiple rumors have attached them to moving veterans for other assets. The Minnesota Wild are at the other end of that spectrum, with a Western Conference-leading 84 points coming out of their league-mandated bye week in Bruce Boudreau's first season as head coach. The Wild have a legit chance to make a Stanley Cup run this year, and making some short window, win-now moves is in order.
Let's make a deal?
On Sunday night, multiple reports confirmed the Wild have acquired center Martin Hanzal, winger Ryan White and a 2017 fourth-round pick from the Coyotes for a 2017 first-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick, a conditional 2019 pick that can be as high as a second-rounder and minor leaguer Grayson Downing.
Hanzal had 16 goals and 10 assists over 51 games for the Coyotes this season, with four power play goals. He is considered a very good two-way center, and in the final year of his contract he was an obvious trade chip for Arizona.
White had 13 points (seven goals) over 46 games for the Coyotes this year, along with 70 penalty minutes and 138 hits credited to him.
How do Hanzal and White fit with the Minnesota Wild?
Hanzal should step right in as Minnesota's third-line center, behind Eric Staal and Mikko Koivu. Erik Haula will bump down to centering the fourth line for the Wild, which will make them even deeper than they already were. Hanzal also should be prominent on Minnesota's penalty killing unit, matching up against an opponent's top line in those situations.
White has experience at wing and center, and he is expected to step as a winger on Minnesota's fourth line. White's physical presence stands to help keep opponents in line, and the speedy Haula should find it easy to operate in the offensive zone.
Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Hanzal and White will join the team and are expected to make their Wild debuts Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings. Something more official should come closer to game time, but Wild fans won't have to wait long to see general manager Chuck Fletcher's new acquisitions.
