'I just gotta play it by ear': Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin addresses state of the Wild ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline
NASHVILLE - The Wild are 7-2-1 in their last ten games, they have been hot recently and are pushing for a playoff spot. But the Nashville Predators, who currently hold onto the last playoff spot in the West, are 7-3-0 in their last ten games and have won six straight.
The Wild want to make the playoffs and they are certainly playing well enough recently to make the playoffs but the teams ahead of them just keep winning.
With the NHL Trade Deadline approaching quickly, Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin will have a lot of decisions to make. He could trade a few pieces who are currently on the team and regain some assets or he could remain steadfast and let the team continue their playoff push with the roster that is currently constructed.
"We have four games before the deadline, so I just gotta play it by ear. I haven't made any decisions on anybody yet," Guerin said. "I've had plenty of discussions about a lot of different scenarios. But you know, I don't know yet."
Most trade deadlines feature players who are on expiring deals being moved. The Wild extended Marcus Foligno, Ryan Hartman, and Mats Zuccarello before the season started so they aren't going anywhere.
Guys like Joel Eriksson Ek, Kirill Kaprizov, Jonas Brodin, Matt Boldy, and Brock Faber are also not likely going anywhere as they are essentially the core of this team for the next couple of years.
Jake Middleton and Marco Rossi are also not expected to be on the block so that leaves you with the guys who are on expiring deals.
Brandon Duhaime and Connor Dewar could be dealt and both could fetch a nice asset. Duhaime is a speedy bottom-six forward who is physical and will stick up for his teammates by fighting. He is the perfect playoff forward and draw some interest but Guerin hasn't made a decision yet.
These next two games for the Wild are huge. They could make or break the season. There are 23 games left in the season for the Wild and their next two games are against the Predators and the St. Louis Blues.
Both the Predators and Blues are a couple of points in front of the Wild in the standings.
"Oh, they're not just any other games. These are huge," Guerin said. "I mean these are the two teams ahead of us and we've got a chance to close the gap. These are huge games for us."
The Wild are six points behind the Predators and one point behind the Blues. Tonight's game would put the Wild either four points behind the Predators or eight points back.
Guerin said these next two games won't decide exactly how he will handle the trade deadline but I would imagine it would have a little bit of an impact on how he will handle the deadline especially if they lost both of them.
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