To Trade Or Not To Trade...

Yes, that is the question that faces every NHL team this time of year. Unfortunately for the Minnesota Wild, the question is complicated this time and has many factors to consider. It seems this season, more than any other, there are more pieces to the puzzle that are not fitting in as they should. And by that I mean off-ice and contractual issues, not on-ice issues. The unfortunate thing is that the pieces not fitting was done by the teams own doing. And I am one of those fans that deeply wants the team to make a big move, make headlines in the NHL. But I am not so sure this is the season to make such a move. There are too many unknowns with two of it's big players...

First we have the Marian Gaborik factor. He was supposed to be the 'ace in the hole' for the Wild this season, as I believe GM Doug Risebrough was set to field offers from all sides of the NHL for this franchises first legitimate star. But his surgery has somewhat melted the ice away to how big a payday Gaborik would see and/or the big return the Wild would get for a trade. I do believe that there was an earnest attempt to lock-up Gaborik earlier this season. And if published reports are correct, there was a legitimate offer on the table. It seems however that either the team waited too long to strike up meaningful contract talks or that Gaborik absolutely does not want to play for this team. So the team now has to explore other avenues. And at this point, I am uncertain what a Gaborik trade would fetch in return, although anything is better than letting him walk. But I stand by my thought that the best thing to do would be to sign him, long or short-term.

The once 'hidden gem' in goaltender Niklas Backstrom, has to also be considered when talking trade. His value is certainly as high at has ever been and he would most undoubtedly be the most sought after goaltender if he were on the trading block or was allowed to enter the market of unrestricted free agency. If the Wild end up re-signing Backstrom, they will either get lucky with a 'deep discount' taken by the Finish netminder (who has stated publicly that he would like to stay), or they will end up paying a pretty big load over what they could have signed him to before the season began. I am not a believer that the Wild cannot afford his true market value, so if he is either traded or allowed to walk, don't buy the line that the team cannot compete when it comes to paying their players. The option of trading Backstrom could certainly bring in some big talent. Remember, he is in the middle of an All-Star season, where he is at or near the top in every goaltender stat. I admit that I go back and forth on a possible Backstrom trade, but I do think it needs to be an option and am actually warming up to the idea.

With the current core group of players on this team the question has to be whether or not they can compete in the post-season and make a deep run into the playoffs. As the roster sits now, I don't think that they can. In fact, standing pat with this group may bring an early vacation and no playoff run at all. But would a significant addition make that much of a difference? With a healthy Gaborik I think it would. Believe me, I was the biggest anti Risebrough campaigner after the Chris Simon deal last season. I want my team to be involved when it comes to signing the big name players. However, this season is different. There might be something to be said for letting the roster ride and concentrate on the off-season moves. However, there should be no question though, both Gaborik and Backstrom need to be moved if they cannot re-sign them in the next few weeks.

And that is what I am referring to when I say it's more complicated than in years past. You have two marque players set to become unrestricted free agents at seasons end, who were allowed to play-out the final year of their contracts. Sign one or both, trade one or both, who knows what Risebrough will do. I don't see an easy answer, other than to deal them if you can't sign them. But as for a 'big deal' that will push this team into a deep run, I don't see it happening.