According to TSN, the Coyote have traded Devon Dubnyk to the Wild in exchange for a third round pick.
This is a shocking move that seems to have come out of nowhere. Now, obviously the Wild are in need of a goalie with Kuemper not playing up to par and Backstrom on the decline, but the rumours seemed to concern guys like Enroth out of Buffalo.
I guess for the Wild there is little risk here - a third rounder isn't very much to pay and Dubnyk - a former first rounder - has some pedigree and talent. He has been very good for the Coyotes this year - in fact, he's been far superior to Mike Smith and created a little bit of a goalie controversy.
Well, there would be a goalie controversy, but the team is really too bad for anyone to get to riled up about a silly thing like which goalie will be shelled with six goals.
I suppose this means Mark Visentine will be called up? (Note: no, he is out with an ankle injury and his season is over). He is the top goalie prospect, but the two AHL goalies are Mike McKenna - who has got the majority of Pirates starts this year - and Louis Domingue. I don't really know. I suppose there will be a corresponding move soon and I'll update as soon as I know.
According to Sarah McLellen, Mike Lee will be the back-up for now.
Listening to what Don Maloney has said this move basically means its 100% Mike Smith from now on. He also said he liked Dubnyk and that he traded him because it helps the future, not for anything he did wrong.
I think it's a good move - sign a UFA and turn him into a draft pick. It's really a no-lose proposition. The pick can become a prospect or be used to further improve another deal. .
Good for Dubnyk though, the guy's career was on the rocks after last season when he went from the Oilers to the Preds to the Canadiens and now he's played himself into possibly being the solution for a Wild team that looks - on paper - good enough to compete in the Playoffs, but has been waylaid by terrible goaltending.
Here's wishing Dubnyk the best.