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NHL Rumors: 5 teams that could trade for Patrik Laine

By Brad Berreman

BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on February 23, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on February 23, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /
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Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images /

2. Minnesota Wild

Perhaps thankfully in the big picture, the Wild bowed out of the NHL season resumption in the qualifying round 3-1 to the Vancouver Canucks. The chance to get the No. 1 overall pick was nice to think about, but as it is they’ll have their first top-10 pick since 2012 (ninth overall).

After that series loss to Vancouver, Wild GM Bill Guerin was blunt about the team’s situation heading into the offseason.

“There definitely have to be changes,” Guerin said. “We haven’t had success here. Things need to get better. That’s just the way it is.”

Finding a true No.1 center has been a need for the Wild seemingly since the franchise’s inception. Finding a way to improve the situation in goal might also be a priority, with options in free agency and on the trade market. After nearly being traded to the New York Islanders at this year’s deadline, it’s worth wondering if Zach Parise will be gone this offseason. With five years still to go on his bloated contract, it’s at best unclear if the Jets would have interest or he’d waive his no-trade clause to go to Winnipeg.

The last time the Wild acquired a score-first sniper, Thomas Vanek, it did not go very well. But Laine is at a different stage of his career than Vanek was, and the Wild will have an extra first-round pick in 2021 from the Pittsburgh Penguins via the Jason Zucker trade.

Minnesota would have to trade a defenseman to Winnipeg for Laine. Matt Dumba has occasionally been the subject of rumors, but heading into the final year of his contract next year Jonas Brodin is a more likely candidate to move. Maybe the Jets would be interested in any lingering potential winger Jordan Greenway has. Brodin, Greenway and Pittsburgh’s 2021 first-round pick for Laine?

Guerin seems set to finish what his predecessor Paul Fenton started– break up a core of players that has not delivered. A big trade for Laine would be a nice offseason centerpiece, to go with a move for a legit pivot to center one of the top two lines.

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