The Minnesota Wild didn’t come away empty-handed, but they also didn’t force the issue.
Wild GM Bill Guerin said the team stayed patient when prices climbed too high, backing out of some conversations while other deals simply never got across the line. As he put it, “a new day.” Even with those misses, Minnesota still has time to address its needs and still has trade options on the table.
Over in Tampa Bay, the Lightning are sorting out their goaltending picture after bringing in Dennis Hildeby. GM Julien BriseBois said Hildeby will serve as the backup, while the team will try to find a fit for Jonas Johansson.
BriseBois also addressed Nikita Kucherov’s extension situation, saying there isn’t an update yet but the Lightning will come back to it. He said he has spoken with Kucherov’s agent, Dan Milstein, and that free agency has taken up more of his attention over the past few weeks than in years past.
“That kind of took precedent, I would say the last few weeks, but I’m sure we’ll circle back. I know we will. We’ll circle back to his representative, and when we have something to announce, we’ll make an announcement.”
On the blue line, BriseBois said the Lightning have options if they want to add a right-handed defenseman. He pointed to Moser, D’Astous, and Lilleberg as players who can handle both sides, and noted there are still names in circulation.
“There’s still some players out there, there’s some trade talk going on. I don’t know that it’s necessarily going to lead to anything in the short term but I would say right now we have 7 defensemen that are really good NHL defensemen that we like.”
In Other News...
Wild Make Another Quiet Bet That Could Matter More Than Fans Think
The Wild added another low-key piece to their long view, signing forward Max Shabanov to a one-year deal for the 2026-27 season. It is the sort of move that can disappear in the noise of a busy offseason, but Minnesota has shown a willingness to keep looking for value wherever it can find it, especially with players who still have some runway left in front of them.
Shabanov arrives after the Islanders chose not to give him a qualifying offer, opening the door for him to reach unrestricted free agency. His track record still gives the Wild something to work with, especially after the offensive numbers he posted in the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk, but the next step will be figuring out whether he can bring that production over and stay available long enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Just Made A Veteran Trade That Says Plenty About The Plan
The Wild and Flames completed a veteran-flavored swap that reshapes the back end of Minnesotas roster and the long-term balance of its draft cupboard. Calgary is retaining half of Blake Colemans $4.9 million cap hit, and the trade also sends a package of future picks to the Flames, underlining that Minnesota is paying for proven help rather than waiting on younger, less certain options.
There is also a contract wrinkle that helps explain how the deal came together. Jake Middletons modified no-trade clause kicked in July 1, and Calgary was not on his 15-team no-trade list, which opened the door for the move once the sides started working through the details. For the Wild, the immediate question now is less about the mechanics of the trade and more about how quickly the new pieces settle into a lineup that has been looking for steadier, more seasoned answers. [Read more 🡒]