The Minnesota Wild are quickly becoming a wagon of a team, separating themselves from the rest of the pack in the Western Conference. Their .689 points percentage puts them on pace for 113 points this season, which would break their record of 106 set in 2016-17 and would be their fifth 100+ point season since joining the league in 2000-01. Despite a track record of decent teams, though, Minnesota has only advanced to the Conference Final stage once — their third season, 2002-03. They’ve made the playoffs numerous times since then but have only escaped the first round twice, losing back-to-back Second Round series in 2014 and 2015.
But with the good ol’ salary cap looming over his team’s head in the near future, general manager Bill Guerin knows there’s no time like the present to add assets for a potential Stanley Cup run in a weak Western Conference. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that the Wild are still in on J.T. Miller, who would be a hot commodity if Vancouver does opt to trade him after their recent hot stretch. Miller was linked to the Wild as far back as November 2021. They’ll face stiff competition, though, as Seravalli notes the Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames are also interested in his services.
The Fourth Period also notes that Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion was spotted scouting tonight’s game between the Wild and Montreal Canadiens. Senators center Chris Tierney is a pending unrestricted free agent, and the experienced bottom-six pivot will also likely be gone at the deadline. He’s another body the team could be interested in.
A center is a common theme here, and it’s the position at which Minnesota lacks the most. Ryan Hartman is enjoying a career year playing between stars Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, but he’s not a natural center and has won just 46.6% of his faceoffs this year. Miller, who’s got 39 points in 39 games so far with Vancouver, is a proven top-six center with better faceoff numbers, the ideal complement down the middle to Joel Eriksson Ek.
It’s worth noting that Miller does have one season remaining after this one on his contract, which carries a $5.25MM cap hit. With the buyout penalties of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter increasing by a staggering $8MM this offseason, salary retention may be a requirement for them. There’s no guarantee Vancouver would be willing to oblige, and Miller will certainly have other suitors.
I could see the Wild trading for Phil Kessel. Not sure how many teams will be in on him and the Guerin connection is there.
Wild want Salary retention?
That’s gonna cost a lot more. Anderson, Greenway, 1st for that little extra.
Yep. Kessel’s cap hit is $6.8, and the Wild just have a shade over $2 million open.
I don’t think they’ll be able to do much. I doubt the Canucks send money with Miller. A 2C would be great.
I’m surprised Giroux isn’t listed as an option
Wild’s window is open shortly especially with new contracts for their RFAs & with those buyout hits around the corner. Guerin will have to be creative with the cap. Buffalo could be interested in helping out possibly for the right price.
There is a way for the Wild to get Miller, and that involves sending Fiala back to the Van. Fiala has really come on strong here in the past couple of weeks, and many think it’s because he finally has some more talent on his line in the form of Matt Boldy. Would moving Fiala and getting Miller help the Wild? I honestly think so. I think Fiala has already outpriced his future in Minnesota. You could drop Hartman to the Fiala spot, as Miller take over the C spot between Kaprizov and Zuccarello. And Zuccs and Miller have a history together from their days with the Rangers. But I just don’t see a straight up Fiala/Miller swap. Wild would have to throw something else in.