The Wild are in a “win now” state of mind and it’s ever more apparent after general manager Chuck Fletcher pulled the trigger on a trade for Arizona forward Martin Hanzal. Minnesota also receives a 2017 fourth-round pick and 28-year-old forward Ryan White.
Hanzal was considered one of the top players available on the trade market.
In exchange, the Wild are sending a pretty solid haul of draft picks. Arizona receives the Wild’s 2017 first-round pick, 2018 second-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2019, along with minor leaguer Grayson Downing is included. The conditional pick will be a third rounder if the Wild win two playoff series, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
The Coyotes are paying 50 percent of Hanzal’s remaining salary. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
“We were trying to accomplish a couple things at the trade deadline,” said Fletcher, via Wild.com. “We felt we needed to add a couple forwards to our group. We were looking to add some experience, some size, some versatility to round out our roster and make us a little deeper going down the stretch and into the playoffs. The second goal was not to give up any of our prospects. Teams have been calling on a lot of our guys for awhile. That’s been the preferred choice of payment for a lot of them.”
Hanzal, 30, has 16 goals and 10 assists in his 10th season with the Coyotes. His 16 goals are tied for a career high.
Arizona Central described Hanzal like this:
“Hanzal built a reputation on being able to match up against the best centers in the league, especially in the Pacific Division where the competition up the middle is meaty yet skilled. But he seemed to have the perfect tool-set to keep up – a 6-foot-6 frame, a rugged style and a hard-nosed approach in front of both nets.”
Wild have lost in in the past b/c they've lacked centers to compete in West. Will enter postseason w/Staal, Koivu & Hanzal down the middle.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) February 27, 2017
The Wild return from their “bye” week Monday night at home against the Los Angeles Kings, who on Sunday acquired goalie Ben Bishop from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The NHL deadline hits Wednesday.
