Tuesday’s deal that brought goaltender Illya Bryzgalov to the Wild might not be the only deal Chuck Fletcher pulls off. The Wild’s general manager has until 2 p.m. to wheel and deal before the NHL’s trade deadline hits.
The latest report from Wild beat writer Michael Russo involves conversations between the Wild and Buffalo Sabres about a trade that would send right wing Drew Stafford to Minnesota. On Tuesday night he referred to the talks as “ongoing conversations.”
Stafford is good friends with Zach Parise from their playing days at Shattuck-St. Mary’s and North Dakota. He’s also a former teammate of Jason Pominville, who the Wild acquired from the Sabres in a trade last year.
Oh, and Stafford is a consistently good 28-year-old winger with one year remaining on his contract. He has 10 goals and 15 assists in 53 games this season.
Russo writes that were Minnesota able to acquire Stafford, they might have to give up a forward like Kyle Brodziak or Torrey Mitchell, along with additional compensation. According to Russo, Mitchell wants out of Minnesota.
It’s been a busy two days for the Wild, who also shut down goalie Niklas Backstrom for the season on Tuesday.
