Truth & Rumors > NHL

Wild looking to deal

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06:51 AM ET 06.25 | Chuck Fletcher has made it clear he wants to make a deal. Now comes the hard part: Finding the right partner. Fletcher wasn't any closer to pulling off his first deal as the Wild's general manager Wednesday, even though brass from the NHL's 30 teams has descended on Montreal. Fletcher said there are no untouchables on the Wild roster, though he acknowledged that's in part a matter of semantics. In other words, he's not out shopping Mikko Koivu or Brent Burns but won't automatically shoot down an overture. There are, however, a few players it would seem more reasonable to move, most notably goaltender Josh Harding, a restricted free agent staring at four years as backup to Niklas Backstrom, who just signed a four-year, $24 million contract.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Josh Harding, Bruce Bennett/Getty Images Josh Harding, Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
June 25, 2009  08:21 AM ET

Mn needs some proven skill at center to pick up the offense, i wouldn't be too quick to sell off Harding unless it is really worth it.
don't do a deal just to do a deal.

June 25, 2009  09:40 AM ET

They need offence, most teams need a goalie. It shouldn't be that tough to make a trade happen, but it IS tough to measure the value of a backup goaltender. They need to trade for a 5th or 6th forward, or a guy who had a really off year last year - someone like Gaborik, except not him because they should be trying to rid themselves of that piece of garbage. Washington has a heck of a need for a goalie...

June 25, 2009  10:30 AM ET

Briere for Harding??? Both teams win! :)

June 25, 2009  10:58 AM ET

Wasn't their a rumor of Kaberle for Harding? I'll take that deal if Minny adds a pick or a prospect like Sheppard.

June 25, 2009  10:58 AM ET

Kaberle and Grabovski for Harding and Burns.

June 25, 2009  11:00 AM ET

They will go out and sign Saku Koviu, so that should get some O, but they should trade Backstrom because he will get them more value and Harding is really good and cheap.

June 25, 2009  11:37 AM ET

What offence is Koivu gonna provide? The 40 points he got on a superior offensive team last year? He'll help them for a couple games at a time, then tank it for a couple weeks, then pick it up again, if his time in Minny goes anything like his career in Montreal did.

June 25, 2009  12:24 PM ET

Kessel for Burns and the rights to Gaborik.

June 25, 2009  12:36 PM ET

burns = a future norris trophy candidate, something *big* would have to be offered for him. i'd say fletcher is trying hard to offload players like johnsson, bouchard, veilleux, skoula, pouliot and zidlicky to clear up cap room and rebuild the team's core. shep and harding definitely are trade bait for a pick or two...but the wild might want to hold onto both for just a little linger to really judge what they have there.

June 25, 2009  01:19 PM ET

Personally speaking, if I were Fletcher, I'd want to keep both tenders until I saw how BAckstrom plays with the pressures of a big contract on his shoulders, as well as the fact that the team has no intention of being the Trapping, defensive minded team they have been since their inception. Until I was sure that Backstrom could handle the increased workload - and shots on net per game - why not keep the quality back up? If Backstrom doesn't falter, then you have bait to make a trade at the deadline if need be.

June 25, 2009  02:46 PM ET

He didn't LOSE them any games, but he wasn't as good as many believe. Theodore's terribility just made him look a lot better than he was. I think he's a solid tender, but bringing in a guy who can play 30-40 games alongside him might not be a bad idea either, 'cause Lord knows the Caps skaters don't want to see him between their pipes again

June 25, 2009  02:47 PM ET

don't want to see Theodore between their pipes again

June 25, 2009  03:15 PM ET

"Kaberle and Grabovski for Harding and Burns."

Dumb move for the Wild!

Harding is a great goalie, he just needs time to prove it.

The wild want Kaberle but wouldn't give up Burns. Wild need to add quality D not trade them away for nothing.

Kaberle and prospect for Harding + Zidlicky + Future 2nd or 3rd pick

June 25, 2009  03:18 PM ET

I would take burns over kaberle especially since hes young. Toronto doesnt have a player worth going after not saying that the wild have many but they need to look at the sedins, heatly, kicking gaborik away and cleaning some house. The young players have a lot of potential but lemaire ruined their early career with stifling developement or what he would call defense.

June 25, 2009  03:40 PM ET
QUOTE(#12):

He didn't LOSE them any games, but he wasn't as good as many believe. Theodore's terribility just made him look a lot better than he was. I think he's a solid tender, but bringing in a guy who can play 30-40 games alongside him might not be a bad idea either, 'cause Lord knows the Caps skaters don't want to see him between their pipes again

Terribility, love it

June 25, 2009  10:49 PM ET
QUOTE:

Varlamov was pretty good in the play-offs till their last game.

didnt they get killed 6-2

June 26, 2009  06:30 AM ET

The Wild still need to produce for the sold-out arena every night, they need to create more excitement on the ice not just on the bench. Proven talent to go with the good young players is needed, kicking Gaborbitch to the curb is a great start.

 
June 26, 2009  10:54 AM ET

"Gaborbitch" He might be but I would still want him on the team next year! It will be much easier to pay him, then trade away or pray for someone to fill his shoes / skates. Gabby missed all of last year and then 3 years ago missed a bunch of games but the bottom line is overall he is worth having on the squad. The only problem is, he refuses to resign so he can play with his boy toy Pavol.

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