At the start of every NHL season, fans and front offices alike start eyeing the teams most likely to stumble-and the stars who might be pried away as a result. For Minnesota Wild fans, the wishlist at center has been ambitious from the jump. Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson were the early dream targets, names that would instantly upgrade the top six and bring some much-needed firepower down the middle.
But here's the thing about the NHL: the standings have a way of humbling even the boldest predictions. Who saw the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets struggling to stay afloat?
Or the New York Rangers stuck at the bottom of the Eastern Conference? The league is unpredictable, and that unpredictability has a ripple effect on the trade market.
In Minnesota’s case, it means the dream of landing Larkin or Thompson is likely off the table. Detroit is outperforming expectations and sitting ahead of the Wild in the standings.
Buffalo’s in the middle of a push to end a 16-year playoff drought. Neither team is looking to offload its top center anytime soon.
So where does that leave the Wild? Still searching-and still dreaming.
Robert Thomas is a name that’s been floated. Young, skilled, and on a manageable contract, he checks a lot of boxes.
But he doesn’t quite bring the same star power. Beyond him, the list starts to lean heavily on aging vets (think Steven Stamkos or Ryan O’Reilly) or No. 1 centers in name only, saddled with contracts that raise more questions than answers-guys like Nazem Kadri, Vincent Trocheck, or J.T.
Miller.
Enter Nico Hischier.
Thanks to reporting from Michael Russo and Joe Smith, Hischier’s name is now officially in the rumor mill orbiting Minnesota. And that’s the kind of name that makes fans sit up a little straighter.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t to say Hischier is actually on the block. He’s the captain of the New Jersey Devils, a former No. 1 overall pick, and just 27 years old.
His contract runs through next season, and the Devils, despite a rocky year, were expected to contend. But when a team underperforms and pressure builds-especially on a GM like Tom Fitzgerald-big decisions can come into play.
New Jersey’s season has been, frankly, a mess. Since missing out on Quinn Hughes, the Devils have gone 10-10-1 and have looked pedestrian in the underlying metrics.
Goaltending has been a glaring issue-Jacob Markström is sitting at an .888 save percentage, and that’s with a nine-goal game weighing things down. It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where the front office considers a shake-up to reset the clock.
And if that happens? Hischier is the kind of player who could command a serious return-especially from a team like Minnesota.
Wild fans got a front-row seat to Hischier’s impact last March when he torched them for a hat trick at Xcel Energy Center. No Kirill Kaprizov.
No Jack Hughes. But Hischier brought the star power.
He logged over 21 minutes, dominated at 5-on-5, and won 14 of 20 faceoffs. The Wild couldn’t get anything going on the power play, and Hischier was a big reason why.
He’s not built like Thompson or as explosive as Larkin, but Hischier’s game is all about intelligence, positioning, and two-way impact. Think of him as what Marco Rossi could be with a few more inches and a better transition game.
He’s one of the league’s most effective 200-foot centers, finishing second in Selke Trophy voting in 2022-23 and fourth last season. He reads plays early, wins pucks in the defensive zone, and flips the ice in a heartbeat.
Offensively, this season’s been a step back-16 goals and 39 points in 52 games-but context matters. He’s still producing at a strong clip at 5-on-5, averaging 2.20 points per hour since 2021-22.
That puts him right in line with names like Brady Tkachuk, Mark Scheifele, and Elias Pettersson. In other words, he’s still a top-tier contributor, even in a “down” year.
If Minnesota could land Hischier, it would finally give them the kind of 1-2 punch at center that playoff contenders are built on. Joel Eriksson Ek and Hischier wouldn’t be the flashiest duo in the league, but they’d be one of the most complete. That’s how you survive a seven-game series against teams like Edmonton, Colorado, or Dallas-squads that roll out elite centers in waves.
Last year, the Wild went into the postseason with Eriksson Ek, a banged-up lineup, and Marco Rossi buried on the fourth line. In each of their last three playoff appearances, they’ve started strong and faded fast.
The common thread? A lack of center depth.
Hischier would change that calculus entirely, shouldering minutes, matchups, and responsibility alongside Eriksson Ek.
Of course, a player like Hischier doesn’t come cheap. If he were even remotely available, the Devils would command a serious haul.
Think two of Minnesota’s top three prospects-Jesper Wallstedt, Danila Yurov, or Charlie Stramel. And after already dipping into the pipeline to land Hughes, that’s a steep price.
But here’s the thing: Hischier isn’t a rental. He’s in his prime, plays a premium position, and his style of play should age well.
If the Wild believe their window is open with Kaprizov, Boldy, and Hughes leading the charge, then Hischier fits that timeline perfectly. He’s not just a short-term fix-he’s a foundational piece.
Right now, there’s no indication that New Jersey is shopping their captain. And the more realistic path for Minnesota might still be a more modest move-someone like Trocheck to plug the gap for a spring run. But the fact that Hischier’s name is even being mentioned in connection with the Wild gives fans something new to latch onto.
The Larkin and Thompson dreams may have faded. But in Hischier, there’s a new fantasy to chase-one that just might be worth the price.