Wild use trade deadline to build for future

DENVER – Bill Guerin didn't let the NHL trade deadline pass without shaking up the Wild.

He usually doesn't.

Just twice in his tenure as Wild general manager has he not made a deal on deadline day. But this year's maneuvering was different.

Instead of endorsing the roster for a run by bringing in reinforcements or even keeping the status quo, the Wild swapped out players for picks and prospects in future-focused decisions indicative of the present: The Wild are chasing a playoff spot they may never catch.

"You say goodbye to some guys you really care about and did great things," Guerin said. "They played hard for us, and they sacrificed a lot. So, to just move guys, it's not great. I'd rather add. But we're just not there."

The Wild traded injured veteran Pat Maroon to Boston and depth center Connor Dewar to Toronto after sending sparkplug forward Brandon Duhaime to Colorado a day earlier.

They received minor leaguer Luke Toporowski and a conditional sixth-round draft pick in 2026 for Maroon and another young player in Dmitry Ovchinnikov and a 2026 fourth-rounder in the Dewar trade; Duhaime netted the Wild a 2026 third-round selection.

Nic Petan is also gone from Iowa in the American Hockey League, going to the New York Rangers for Iowa-bound forward Turner Elson. The Wild weren't close to completing any other trades.

"We're not in the best spot, but that doesn't change anything," Guerin said of the Wild, who were seven points out of the playoffs after their 5-2 victory at Arizona on Thursday. "I still expect the team to push for the playoffs, and I still expect that type of effort every single night.

"But on the flip side, it's my job to think about down the road as well, and these were just moves that became available."

Although Maroon is recovering from back surgery, the Bruins coveted the three-time Stanley Cup champion. The Wild acquired Maroon last summer in a trade with Tampa Bay to bolster their own experience, and the 35-year-old leaves after contributing four goals and 12 assists in 49 games.

As for Dewar's deal, that came together right before the 2 p.m. deadline Friday.

"Shock," Dewar said of his reaction to the news. "I got the call a few minutes after the deadline had passed, so I kinda thought I had made it for a second. But every Dew has his day."

The other "Dew," Duhaime, was traded Thursday to the Avalanche, meaning he made his team debut Friday night at Ball Arena against the Wild.

"A little bit weird," he said. "Just the way it works out. But I'm excited to compete with this group and get over the situation and just play."

Duhaime had the chance to say bye to the Wild; he was at the rink when he found out he'd been traded, and that emotional exit prepared Dewar for Friday.

"You grow up dreaming of playing in the NHL, and I got to do it alongside some of my best friends," Dewar said. "It was really special."

Like Duhaime, Dewar was a homegrown player, getting drafted by the Wild in the third round in 2018 before posting a career-high 18 points in 81 games last season.

He scored his first NHL hat trick at Nashville on Nov. 30 and was up to a personal-best 10 goals (alongside four assists) but was mostly known for being a penalty-kill specialist.

His current contract expires after the season, and the Wild would have still held the 24-year-old's rights. But the team has other options in the pipeline.

"This is opening up roster spots and being able to move ahead with some of our younger players," Guerin said.

That process has already started.

Adam Beckman played a second straight game Friday, and Marat Khusnutdinov was scheduled to arrive in Minnesota on Friday night and go through medicals Saturday.

The team's health has also improved a bit, with Marcus Foligno (groin) returning against the Avalanche while Jake Middleton (upper body) and Marcus Johansson (lower body) remained idle for a game that resumed the Wild's playoff bid but with a new priority.

"This is about moving forward," Guerin said. "Some guys are going to get more of a chance. Some guys are going to play in positions that they haven't been able to play in in a while.

"Take advantage of the opportunities."