A look at some former Wild players that could be moved at the NHL Trade Deadline by Friday.

The NHL Trade Deadline is only a few days away. The Wild have a couple potential players that they could move but there are also a couple of former Wild players who could be on the move. 

Matt Dumba | ARI | D

The Wild couldn't get anything for Dumba when he was here but the right shot defensemen market is slim and every team would like to have a top four, right-shot defender. Dumba fits that, despite the season he has had so far.

Dumba, 29, signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes after the Wild left him unsigned. The 6-foot defenseman spent ten seasons in Minnesota where he recorded 79 goals and 236 points in 598 games.

The former 7th overall pick by the Wild in 2012, was one of the Wild's assistant captains for the last two years. This year for the Coyotes, Dumba has notched four goals and nine points in 57 games and is minus-14. He could be dealt but I'm not sure it would be for a first round pick like the rumors that were floating around. 

Prediction: Toronto Maple Leafs

Nick Bjugstad | ARI | F

The Wild scratched Bjugstad during the 2022 playoffs and eventually let him walk to free agency where he signed with Arizona. The former star Minnesota Gophers forward re-found his game with the Coyotes and was traded to the Edmonton Oilers last year at the deadline. 

He returned to Arizona and signed a one-year deal in the off-season. The 6-foot-6 center has 13 goals and 31 points in 61 games for the Coyotes this year and could be a nice fit on a playoff contending team as their third-line center. 

Bjugstad, 31, would be a nice depth piece on a good team like the Colorado Avalanche or the Edmonton Oilers. Maybe the Carolina Hurricanes?

Prediction: Edmonton Oilers

Nick Seeler | PHI | D

In my opinion, this is the best former Wild player on this list. Nick Seeler is playing like a top four defenseman. He plays a heavy game and shuts down a lot of offense. 

Seeler, 30, has found his game in Philadelphia after not really sticking with his hometown Minnesota Wild. In 99 career games for the Wild across three seasons, Seeler was a bottom pairing defender who only averaged about 13 minutes of ice time. 

With the Flyers, Seeler is getting around 17 minutes of ice-time, which is well deserved. He will provide shutdown play on any defensive pair he would play on and can provide a spark physically with big hits. He also is not afraid to drop the gloves. 

He has played in the playoffs before and now with his rejuvenated career in Philly, Seeler would be the perfect playoff type-player on a cup contending team like the Boston Bruins were he could be the team's fifth or sixth defensemen.

Prediction: Boston Bruins

Mikael Granlund | SJS | F

Granlund has bounced around since the Wild traded him to the Nashville Predators back in 2019 for Kevin Fiala. But he is still a pretty decent player. 

I don't think a lot of teams would be comfortable paying the price the Penguins paid for Granlund last year at the deadline for the production he gave them, but I do think Granlund would be a fine trade target for the right team. 

One of those teams would be the Colorado Avalanche. If the Avs miss out on centers like Adam Henrique, Alex Wennberg, and Scott Laughton, I think Granlund would be a good consolation prize. 

Granlund, 32, has played well on a San Jose Sharks team that is 31st in the NHL. He currently leads the Sharks in points with 36 in 47 games played. He would fit well on the Avalanche's second or third line and would provide some secondary scoring and a boost to their number two power play unit. 

Prediction: Colorado Avalanche

Other options

I'm not sure there is much of a market for goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen but he is still young and has had a good season on a really bad team. As is Luke Kunin. Both of which are on the Sharks, who are 31st in the NHL, only one point ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks who are dead last. 

Kunin hasn't really reached his full potential yet since the Wild traded him to the Nashville Predators but he is still a good player and a young center who could play either wing or center on a good cup contending team's bottom six. Not sure what a return for Kunin would be but he wouldn't be a bad depth add. 

Jason Zucker's name has also been out there but there are plenty of forwards like Zucker who will have higher interest from teams. 

If the teams who are targeting scoring forwards like Frank Vatrano, Jake Guenztel, and Vladimir Tarasenko miss out on them, Zucker wouldn't be a bad add. 

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