So many thoughts about yesterday's happenings in the world of the Minnesota Wild.
Mikael Granlund dealt in a one for one "hockey trade" for Kevin Fiala.
What to make of this deal and why?
I for one am not here to grade the trade on winning and losing this deal the day after it was made. However I will make my observations and what I think it means to the Wild both present and future.
Granlund has established himself in the NHL as a consistent 60-70 point player. That of course was after several years of figuring things out for the former 9th overall pick in the 2010 draft.
I believe that Paul Fenton sees Granlund as just that a 60-70 point guy with not much higher of a ceiling. The fact that Granny is just a year away from free agency is also a factor in moving him now versus trying to deal him in the Summer.
The other factor with Granlund is that he represents the Wild core that has been unable to take their game to a higher level, along with Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, and Jason Zucker (who was nearly traded to Calgary yesterday).
Fenton has given that inner core a makeover with the additions of Fiala, Ryan Donato, and Victor Rask.
In the process he has made the Wild younger and faster with greater potential in Fiala and Donato at least. The jury is still way out on Rask.
Donato has been electric in his first three games and Fiala brings a ton of skill with game breaker potential.
To me the Wild got better by change.
Luke Kunin, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Jordan Greenway have elevated their games and the Wild are becoming a 2019 NHL team, rather than the veteran laden been there done that model. By been there done that, meaning out early in the playoffs each of the past six seasons.
As far as the remaining member of the Wild core, Jason Zucker, how does he feel knowing he was nearly dealt to Calgary and will more than likely be moved in the offseason if Fenton can get a decent return?
That is a question that can only be answered by Zucker himself over the next 19 games and playoffs if the Wild can manage their way in.
Tonight the new look Wild get their neighbors to the North in Winnipeg. The message is very clear, that there is a new sheriff in town and the Wild team of the last several seasons is history.
For sure the Wild would be a better team with Mikko Koivu in the lineup, but I do believe in order to really turn this roster around his absence is actually a benefit to building chemistry with the new faces. When Koivu returns next year he will be rejuvenated by the youth that has been assembled and who knows he may even get a lengthy playoff run in the process.
Way to far down the road on all of that, for tonight it is another opportunity to get two points.
It's Always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
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