The Minnesota Wild have acquired veteran defenseman Jeff Petry from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2026 seventh‑round pick, the team announced Thursday. The pick can upgrade to a fifth‑round pick if Minnesota wins two playoff rounds and Petry appears in at least half of the Wild’s postseason games.

Petry arrives in Minnesota with a long NHL resume that includes a notable stint with the Detroit Red Wings. After being acquired by Detroit in August 2023, Petry spent two seasons with the Red Wings, appearing in 117 games and recording four goals and 28 assists for 32 points before moving on in free agency.

Prior to joining Detroit, Petry had established himself as a reliable top‑four defenseman over many seasons with other clubs, and he reached a significant career milestone in the current NHL season by playing his 1,000th NHL game in November 2025. 

This season with Florida, Petry has appeared in 58 games, registering eight assists but no goals while providing depth on the Panthers’ blue line. 

At 37 years old, Petry brings extensive experience and leadership to a Wild team looking to bolster its defense ahead of the playoff push. His addition gives Minnesota another veteran presence on the back end as the regular season winds down.

What do you think about the move? Should Detroit have tried to bring back Petry considering his low price tag?