The Minnesota Wild are heading into free agency with the same basic assignment every other NHL team has this week: patch the holes, add depth, and keep an eye on the bigger swings. For Minnesota, that means navigating a market where Mats Zuccarello and Vladimir Tarasenko are both hitting the open market, while also keeping tabs on the trade chatter around Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, a name the Wild have been consistently tied to.
But the more immediate drama for Minnesota came from a rival down the division ladder.
The Dallas Stars were heavily in the mix for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, the reigning Norris Trophy winner who has been noncommittal about his future with the team. According to Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Werenski shut the door on a trade to Dallas after the Stars had already reached terms on a deal with Columbus. The framework would have sent defenseman Thomas Harley and multiple draft picks to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Werenski.
For the Wild, that was a welcome development. Dallas landing Werenski would have only made an already brutal Central Division race even more difficult, especially with the path to the Western Conference Finals looking so unforgiving. Instead, Minnesota got to watch the Stars take a hit.
This wasn’t the first time Dallas has run into a wall on a major move. The Stars also had a trade for forward Jason Robertson to the Seattle Kraken vetoed, even with Seattle prepared to give him an eight-year, $15 million per season contract.
Robertson, a restricted free agent, turned down the move. Now Werenski has done the same thing, effectively telling Dallas, "thanks but no thanks".
The Harley angle adds another layer to the story. He would have been part of the return to Columbus, and unlike some players in these situations, he doesn’t have a no-movement clause in his contract until after the 2028-29 season, meaning he could have been dealt without having a say in it. That’s a rough spot for any player to be in.
Werenski’s next move still appears to be in the East. Reports say he would prefer to play in the Eastern Conference, and the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs are currently viewed as the frontrunners. Those are the only teams he’d reportedly waive his no-movement clause for.
For Minnesota, the key takeaway is simple: one of the Stars’ biggest swings just missed, and the Wild don’t have to worry about Werenski landing with a division rival or another powerhouse out West.
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 🡒]
Bill Guerin Just Put Wild Fans In A Familiar Trade Bind
Bill Guerins summer approach has been pretty familiar for Wild fans: stay patient, keep shopping, and walk away when the price gets too steep. The Minnesota general manager said the club has backed out of some trade discussions after the asking prices climbed beyond what it was willing to pay, even as other talks simply failed to line up. For a roster that still has areas to address, it is the kind of stance that can sound prudent one day and maddening the next.
Guerin also made clear there is still time left to find help, which is why the market remains worth watching for Minnesota. The Wild have options, but they are operating in that uneasy middle ground between wanting to improve and refusing to overextend, a spot that often defines how this front office handles business. For now, the question is whether patience leads to the right fit or just another round of near misses. [Read more 🡒]