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Guerin Working, Dumba Takes Home Well Deserved Honor

September 9, 2020, 2:54 PM ET [6 Comments]
Dan Wallace
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It is just a matter of time before Bill Guerin pulls the trigger on a move as he works to improve the Wild roster.

His mission to try and find a productive center is well documented. I am not one to call his quest a search for a number 1 center as that is quite difficult in this off-season.

The names that are being bandied about like Max Domi and Anthony Cirelli do not posses top line center skills. However could either or both be productive additions to the Wild roster at the right price? Of course with Cirelli, in my opinion providing the better upside.

This is the off-season to move either Matt Dumba or Jonas Brodin with the upcoming expansion draft and the fact the Wild will have to protect Suter and Spurgeon due to their no movement contacts.

Brodin is on the Rangers radar for sure but what does the return look like and not sure the Blueshirts have the solution the Wild need but possibly a three way deal could be orchestrated by Guerin.

What about an finding a player that is miscast with his current team? Let's say a guy like Pavel Zacha the former #5 pick in the 2015 draft who has not progressed as the Devils had thought be would by this point. How much of that is due to his supporting cast or just the wrong situation.

The supporting cast argument does not bode well for a front line center as we know they should be the ones to make those around them better. But let's look the Devils who have last year's first overall pick in Jack Hughes and the 2017 top selection in Nico Hischier as their top two centers. So time is right for the Devils to make a move with Zacha.

Improving the center position is Guerin's top priority not necessarily trying to find the top line center if none are actually available.

Goaltending is of course a concern as well but that is far less as there are options on the free agent market and the fact that Kaapo Kahkonen is appearing to be at least ready to step into a role with the big club this season.

We have seen numerous goalies make a name for themselves seemingly out of nowhere so breaking the bank for one of the guys on the free agent market probably is not the wisest move either.

Dubnyk has just this year left in his deal and Stalock is for this coming season and the next at a very reasonable $785K per season. Stalock has proven to be a very good backup goaltender and one that his teammates love to play for. The option for Guerin to potentially buy out Dubnyk's final year is also a very real possibility.


Dumba - Worthy King Clancy Winner

Matt Dumba made it back to back years for a Wild player to take home the Clancy Award as last season Jason Zucker was awarded the prestigious trophy.

Much has been publicized about Matt Dumba and his actions off the ice to promote diversity in hockey as well as standing up and speaking out about injustices that are all around us. He is a well deserving recipient of the King Clancy and his voice and actions will not stop as he continues to make a difference here in the State of Hockey and well beyond.
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