Bad Extensions, Not Marat Khusnutdinov, Could Push Marco Rossi onto Wild Trade Block

The Minnesota Wild were wheeling and dealing at an NHL trade deadline that was much more active than in past years. But there was only so much they could shake up, after president of hockey operations Bill Guerin signed those who would have been his most valuable trade deadline assets to recent contract extensions instead.

Marat Khusnutdinov expected to make Minnesota Wild debut Thursday

But their biggest addition at the trade deadline didn’t come via trade at all. Marat Khusnutdinov’s KHL season is over and the remainder of his contract nullified. He’s now signed with the Wild, arrived in St. Paul recently and, According to Joe Smith (The Athletic), is expected to play in his first NHL game on Thursday vs the Anaheim Ducks at Xcel Energy Center.

The 21-year-old Russian is expected to jump into the Wild lineup and contribute immediately and I wouldn’t be surprised if he sees early time with superstar teammate and fellow countryman, Kirill Kaprizov, especially if Joel Eriksson Ek is out for any extended period of time, after leaving Monday’s win vs the Arizona Coyotes early with an apparent leg injury.

Prior to the trade deadline, longtime NHL insider Jim Cerny (Sportsnaut) reported about how difficult it was to find any interest in Minnesota Wild players, among NHL front offices. That is unless, one anonymous NHL scout quipped, “they make Marco Rossi available or something”.

Well, well, well, Mr. big shot NHL scout… what if I told you that the player you covet will, in-fact, come available… just not at the (now-past) trade deadline? According to The Athletic, Guerin may very well shop Marco Rossi during the offseason, now that (but not because of) Marat Khusnutdinov being on roster.

Bill Guerin’s ‘clubhouse extensions’ could cost Wild Marco Rossi

So it’s not Khusnutdinov who might push Rossi onto the trade block this offseason? No, instead, it’s the veteran extensions I mentioned earlier that will make it difficult to get both young centerman regular minutes in the Minnesota Wild top-six, or even top-nine forwards.

Up the middle, the Wild now have veterans Joel Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman and Freddy Gaudreau, along with the aforementioned young NHLers, Rossi and Khusnutdinov. But they also have a rising prospect who could be ready for the league as early as next season.

I’m excited to see the Wild’s latest Russian talent make his debut tomorrow, if it happens. I am not excited to know that we have another batch of aging veterans who are taking priority over some of the best young offensive talent in the organization.