The Minnesota Wild may not have landed Brady Tkachuk, but new reporting suggests they were firmly in the mix for one of the NHL's biggest stars.

During a recent appearance discussing the blockbuster trade that sent Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun revealed that Minnesota was one of just four teams Tkachuk would have accepted a trade to.

"My understanding is the Senators also had conversations with Carolina and Vegas, other teams that were on Tkachuk's list. I also think Minnesota was on the list. Four-team list but in the end, Brady obviously wanted to go join his brother in Florida," LeBrun said in his tweet.

In the end, the opportunity to play alongside his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, was too much to pass up. Brady chose Florida, where he will join the defending Stanley Cup champions and one of the NHL's premier organizations.

Still, Minnesota's inclusion on that short list is noteworthy.

For years, the Wild have often been overlooked when superstar players became available. Whether through free agency or the trade market, Minnesota rarely found itself mentioned among the preferred destinations of the league's elite talent.

That appears to be changing.

The Wild have positioned themselves as a team entering a legitimate Stanley Cup window under Bill Guerin and John Hynes. With a core built around Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber and Quinn Hughes, Minnesota has assembled one of the more intriguing rosters in the Western Conference.

Although he is not a center, Tkachuk is exactly the type of player thay would have fit well in Minnesota. The 26-year-old power forward brings a rare combination of skill, physicality, leadership and playoff-style hockey. Since entering the league, he has developed into one of the NHL's premier wingers while serving as captain of the Senators.

While Minnesota ultimately missed out, simply making Tkachuk's list speaks volumes about how the organization is viewed around the league.

In fact, Tkachuk may not be the only star player who views Minnesota as an appealing destination.

Earlier this offseason, reports surfaced that Dylan Larkin would be willing to waive his no-trade clause for only a handful of teams, with Minnesota reportedly among them.

While the circumstances surrounding Tkachuk and Larkin are different, both situations point to the same conclusion.

Minnesota is becoming a more attractive destination for star players.

The Wild may not have landed Tkachuk, but making his four-team list is a reminder that elite players around the league are taking notice of what Minnesota is building.

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