The ripple effect from the Connor Hellebuyck trade is already reaching beyond New Jersey, and Michael Russo and EJ Hradek both pointed to the same pressure point: what it means for the Minnesota Wild’s push for Dylan Larkin, and by extension Quinn Hughes.
Russo said the deal stood out to him because “there’s no first-round pick in it.” That matters, he argued, because he believes a Wild move for Larkin would be built around futures - “a really good young player in the organization, maybe a roster player or two that makes significant dollars just to offset a little bit of the money, but then multiple first-round picks.”
That’s where he thinks the Hellebuyck trade could change the conversation. Russo said he doesn’t think Shawn Horcoff has been overly enticed by that kind of package, but the new deal gives Minnesota another reference point as it weighs its options. Draft picks can be moved again, pending UFAs can be flipped later, and there are plenty of ways to shuffle assets around the league.
At the same time, Russo said the Wild’s urgency has gone up because Quinn Hughes remains “the elephant in the room and being currently unsigned.”
Hradek then focused on the draft-pick side of these kinds of discussions, pointing out that first-rounders sound better in theory than they often do in practice. He used Mercer as an example, noting that he was “a first-round pick in his draft here in 2020” and now profiles as a player who gives you 20 goals, around 40 points, hard minutes, versatility, faceoffs and penalty killing. He also brought up Command, saying he was a first-round pick this past year, 12th overall, and “We don’t know what he’s going to be yet.”
His larger point was that future first-round picks often look shinier than they end up being. Teams can be handing over what becomes the 27th overall pick or even the 32nd overall pick, depending on how things go.
That’s why Hradek said the Red Wings, in this spot, probably need players back now. If they were rebuilding, the picks would make more sense.
Russo agreed that Detroit likely wants something more immediate, but he also said he has trouble believing a true “21, 22-year-old Dylan Larkin for a 30-year-old Dylan Larkin” type of swap is realistic.
He added that the expanded list, which Helene St. James reported the other day, is something he “100% believe[s]” is accurate. Russo said that could affect trade offers and other teams Dylan might be willing to play for.
From Minnesota’s side, Russo said the team has been aggressive in its pursuit. He said the Wild like Larkin because of what they’ve seen through USA Hockey and because of what he could add to the lineup. He also suggested that landing Larkin might help persuade Quinn Hughes “to maybe sign on the dotted line for two or three more years.”
Russo also noted the Quinn Hughes connection to Connor Hellebuyck and the fact that Hughes’ brothers are elsewhere, but he said salary makes things complicated. According to Puckpedia, he said the Devils have “$16.8 (million), I think, according to Puckpedia, with 16 players signed next year,” meaning “something would have to give there.”
Even so, Russo said the move makes New Jersey “a much more formidable contender,” and if Hughes were added to that mix, they would become even stronger. That, he said, leaves Minnesota in a less comfortable place and adds more pressure to find a top-six forward or top-six center before the opportunity slips away.
In Other News...
Quinn Hughes Just Put Wild Fans On Contract Watch
Quinn Hughes has given Wild fans plenty to monitor as he works through what comes next, and the good news for Minnesota is that he has made it clear he likes where he is. The pending free agent spoke about wanting to remain with the Wild, praised the strength of the roster, and said his experience in Minnesota has been a positive one, all while making it clear he is not rushing the process.
Hughes is entering the final year of his current contract, and for now there is still no extension in hand. He has been productive this season, which only adds to the intrigue around how long the Wild can keep him in place, and whether a decision comes sooner rather than later will be one of the more closely watched developments around the team. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Are Holding Firm In Dylan Larkin Trade Talks
The Wild still have their name in the mix as Detroit weighs whether to move center Dylan Larkin, but the talks are being framed by the Red Wings as more than a simple one-for-one swap. Detroit is believed to want young centers in return, which puts a player like Danila Yurov in the conversation for Minnesota, and the salary-cap math only adds another layer of complexity to any possible deal.
What keeps this from moving quickly is the price and the timing. Detroit is not treating Larkin as a player it has to move right away, even with interest coming from multiple teams, and any real package would have to go well beyond a single prospect to satisfy what the Red Wings are seeking. For Minnesota, that means the path to landing a centerpiece like Larkin is still there, but it is not close to being straightforward. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Make A Roster Move With One Young Forward Still Pushing Hard
The Minnesota Wild sent forward Rieger Lorenz back to the Iowa Wild, trimming their roster as the young player continues his first full pro season. Lorenz, drafted in 2022 and recently signed to his entry-level deal, had earned six games with Minnesota this season and was getting his first taste of NHL action after making the jump from the amateur ranks.
For the Wild, the move keeps the 21-year-old in a spot where he can log meaningful minutes and keep developing after a promising start in the AHL. Lorenz already has shown some offensive touch in Iowa, and with the organization managing its depth at forward, he remains one of the more interesting young pieces to track as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]