“Welcome to the Minnesota Wild, Dylan Larkin,” Stanley Cup champion and ESPN analyst Erik Johnson jokingly said on his X account. He wasn’t breaking any news, simply stating the obvious as Minnesota is arguably the most logical landing spot for Larkin. Greg Wyshynski also pointed at the Wild as the clear-cut number one suitor for Larkin.

The Wild need a center. There’s no way around it. Minnesota was among the biggest bidders for Vincent Trocheck at the NHL trade deadline. Ultimately, the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement, but the need for a centerman is still there. Larkin’s trade request out of Detroit spoils the Rangers’ plan, and it could also take one of the biggest suitors out of the market for New York and Trocheck.

In more ways than one, Detroit could take the only positive thing New York has going for it away from it. And the worst part of it all may be that the Red Wings would love not to be in this position.

Wild makes too much sense

The Wild’s desperate need for center help and Larkin’s trade request have created the perfect storm. The main factors behind Larkin’s trade request appear to be that he is tired of missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs and has grown apart from the front office in Detroit.

Joining the Wild, he’d be killing two birds with one stone. Minnesota is a perennial playoff team—even if it has only made it out of the first round once in the last decade—and its front office, led by GM Bill Guerin, would reunite Larkin with several familiar faces from Team USA’s administration.

Moreover, Larkin won the gold medal at the 2026 Olympics alongside Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, and Matt Boldy. That’s three more potential teammates than Larkin has ever won anything with among his Red Wings peers. Similar to Trocheck’s case, the Wild and Larkin have history, even if he never played for the organization in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. They seem to be connected, and the trade request may finally bring them together.

Trading for Larkin could solve everything for Wild

For the Wild, acquiring Larkin, who is under contract for the next five NHL seasons, could also help them convince Hughes to re-sign in Minneapolis-St. Paul rather than head to New Jersey, where his brothers Jack and Luke await on the Devils.

If Minnesota can put together an appealing offer, Detroit may not put up much resistance, and Larkin would waive his no trade clause (NTC) to chase glory with the Wild, one of 10 NHL franchises that have never won the Stanley Cup.

The dots simply connect smoothly for Larkin and Minnesota. If the Wild miss out on this chance, they may come to regret it forever. For Larkin, this may be the best chance he ever gets at a fresh start.

Just another Wild postseason run

The Wild witnessed a promising season come to a crushing end at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche in the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, many could make the case that Minnesota shot itself in the foot. The organization in the Twin Cities didn’t address its clear void at the centerman position, and it came back to bite the Wild.

They had everything else covered. All they needed were some anchors to fill out the top six. They missed out on Trocheck, and it was only downhill from there. Once one thing failed, the house of cards came crashing down for Minnesota.

It’s no use crying over spilled milk, but it should serve the Wild as a lesson. Heading into yet another long offseason, they must finally address the elephant in the room. With Larkin’s out-of-the-blue trade request, they may have come across just the perfect opportunity. And this train will only stop once.

“I won’t sit on my hands,” Guerin said, via Michael Russo of The Athletic, during his end-of-season media availability. His message was in response to a question about exploring the market for a No. 1 center or any opportunity to make the Wild better.

For the Wild, losing Joel Eriksson-Ek to injury during the Stanley Cup Playoffs underlined the lack of depth at the center position. Though Trocheck may not be the ideal No. 1 center, he does make for an exciting addition to the top-six, and who knows? Maybe he can grow into a bigger role in Minnesota. Playing with Kirill Kaprizov, the highest-paid player in NHL history, on his wing should definitely help.

What’s in it for the Rangers?

The Rangers held on to Trocheck through this year’s trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean they won’t explore the market ahead of the 2026-27 NHL campaign. In fact, many would consider New York foolish if it didn’t listen to offers.

The free-agent class is quite shallow, and most franchises agree trading is the better route this offseason. Keeping Trocheck proved to be the right decision for the Blueshirts, and they may finally cash in on the opportunity.

With NHL franchises still chasing for their first Stanley Cup, like the Minnesota Wild, growing desperate, the timing may never be better for the Rangers to strike a deal and send Trocheck to a contender.

Trocheck’s trade protection

In addition to his strong numbers amid troubling times in the Big Apple, Trocheck feels like the perfect candidate because he is under contract for the next three NHL seasons at a more than reasonable $5.6 million cap hit. That makes him even more appealing.

However, his contract includes a modified no-trade clause (M-NTC). As of July 1, Trocheck’s 12-team no-trade list will shrink to 10 teams. Although Trocheck has made it clear he wishes to stay on the East Coast, many believe the club in the Twin Cities lies in a diffuse gray area.

Because of Trocheck’s Team USA connections with Bill Guerin, Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, and Matt Boldy, there is reason to believe Minnesota may not be on his “no-go” list. Still, that remains unknown. Only Trocheck and New York can answer that, and one can guess why that confidentiality won’t ever go public.

Expected timeline for trade

Any move involving Trocheck would most likely occur after July 1, and the odds of Minnesota being the highest bidder would also increase exponentially by that date. Especially if the Wild don’t pursue another centerman and the Rangers play their cards right with Trocheck.

So far, so good. New York may not have been able to play its situation any better, but it’s a long game, and one slip-up could wipe away all progress.

“Colorado’s Josh Manson has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for butt-ending Minnesota’s Michael McCarron,” the NHL‘s Department of Player Safety announced on its social media, @NHLPlayerSafety.

Though many argued Manson should have been assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for the dangerous maneuver involving the butt end of his stick, several rule analysts agree officials got the call right. However, supplemental discipline was to be expected. Colorado may have escaped with a slap on the wrist, as Manson will not face a suspension and is cleared to play in Game 5 against Minnesota.

Manson and McCarron will meet again

Fortunately for McCarron, he came away pretty much unscathed from his abrupt meeting with Manson’s butt end. With Manson healthy and eligible to dress as well, the two are set to meet again in Game 5.

Needless to say, fans can expect the Wild to respond in some fashion. However, Minnesota can’t lose sight of what really matters or get too carried away in its quest for vengeance. Down 3-1 in the series and with a trip to the Western Conference Final on the line, McCarron knows the stakes far exceed any personal vendetta.

Avs are one win away from WCF

The best way to get back at Manson and the Avalanche is by coming away with a massive road win to stay alive and drag the Avs back to the Twin Cities. In order to force a Game 6 back in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the Wild must steal one in the Mile High City.

So far, no team has beaten Colorado at Ball Arena in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The last time the Wild won a playoff game in Denver was in Game 7 of their first-round matchup in the 2014 postseason. Since then, they are 10-12-4 in road games against the Avs—all in the regular season.

It’s all easier said than done. As if overcoming a 3-1 deficit wasn’t already a nearly impossible task on its own, doing so against the Presidents’ Trophy winners—with two of the potential three remaining games being played in their own barn, and that same team being Colorado—could well be all she wrote for Minnie.

“I know I need to play better and create more offensively,” Kaprizov admitted to reporters on Monday, via The Athletic’s Michael Russo. Kaprizov recorded an assist during the Wild‘s 9-6 loss against the Avalanche in Game 1.

Although he wasn’t held scoreless, it was tougher to notice Kaprizov during some stretches of the game, especially considering how big of a factor he was during the first-round series against the Dallas Stars. For the first time in the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kaprizov finished with a negative plus/minus (-2) in the series opener against Colorado.

The Wild need Kaprizov

Taking on a team with the likes of MacKinnon, Makar, Nelson, Kadri, Necas, and many more, Kaprizov is well aware the Wild can’t afford for him to have such quiet outings. He has now set his mind on being impossible to miss every time he hits the ice. Fortunately, Kaprizov’s shot at redemption will come quickly.

The Wild will take on the Avs in Game 2 at Ball Arena on May 5. The two sides will then be in for a three-game break, as Game 3 will be on May 9 back in the Twin Cities. For Kaprizov and Minnesota, coming away with one in the Mile High City is paramount.

Potential goaltending change

Although none of Colorado’s nine goals can be blamed on rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, he did, in fact, give up eight goals (the ninth of the night was an empty-netter) in a playoff game. That’s never been a recipe for success in the NHL, let alone in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Thus, despite Wallstedt playing lights out throughout the opening round, Wild head coach John Hynes hasn’t committed to naming the former first-round pick in 2021 as the starter for Game 2. “Hynes hasn’t made lineup decisions for tomorrow yet, including his goaltender,” per Michael Russo on X.

Filip Gustavsson could man the crease instead. Gustavsson last started for Minnesota on April 13. Despite playing more games throughout the regular season than Wallstedt, the veteran ultimately lost the crease to the rookie as the Wild opted to ride the hot hand. Gustavsson may have his chance to reclaim his starting job. Whether its Gustavsson or Wallstedt in net, it’s clear Kaprizov and company must do a better job in front of their goalie if they want to have any chance against MacKinnon and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche.

“We didn’t deserve to win. We didn’t win enough [puck] battles. That’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger,” Rantanen stated after the game, via NHL.com.

Rantanen pointed to the Stars’ aggressiveness—or rather, their lack of it—as the root of the problems they had in Game 1 against the Wild. Minnesota dominated the action and virtually determined the result with a blistering surge in the first 6:30 of the second period. The Wild went on a run to jump out to a 4–0 lead, and that was essentially all she wrote for Dallas.

Stars fans headed home scratching their heads—and so did Rantanen and company. Dallas hadn’t lost by a five-goal margin since the 2023–24 NHL season. If there’s a silver lining, though, it’s that this is nothing new for the Stars.

Dallas has a history of losing Game 1

Last season, the Stars lost 5–1 at American Airlines Center in the opening game of their first-round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. They went on to win the series in seven games.

Starting the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the wrong foot seems to be a common theme for the Stars. Going back to the start of the decade, the Stars have always lost Game 1 of the First Round. The last time Dallas won a playoff opener was in 2019, when they defeated the Nashville Predators.

Dallas wants the Cup

It might be unconventional and stressful, but it’s yielded results for the Stars—although they have yet to hoist their second Stanley Cup in franchise history. Since the 2018–19 campaign, the Stars have reached the Stanley Cup Final once and made it to the Western Conference Final on three other occasions.

If they keep on the same path, the hex is due to break sooner or later. Rantanen and company hope for the former, and they believe this could be their year. If the Stars can make it out of the Central Division playoff picture, then the sky is truly the limit. However, surviving a bracket with the likes of the Wild and Avalanche is much easier said than done.

“It hurts to not get anything out of this game,” McLellan admitted, via NHL.com. “Especially on a penalty 150 feet from our net and away from the play.” McLellan’s comment was a clear shot at Kane‘s stick infraction that handed the Wild a late power play opportunity.

Being booed off the ice at the sound of the second-period horn certainly served as a wake-up call for the Red Wings. In the third period, they found their footing and tied the game at 4–4 after trailing 4–1. However, there was still time left for the Red Wings to trip over the same stone once again.

Kane had scored the equalizer, yet he followed it up by committing a nonsensical tripping penalty on a possession-less Quinn Hughes. Minnesota went on the man advantage, Kirill Kaprizov cashed in with 1:51 left in the game—and that was all she wrote for Detroit.

Playoff implications for Detroit

A win would’ve put the Red Wings in a playoff spot with five games left in the 2025–26 NHL season. Instead, they remain in the jam-packed fight for a wild-card spot. A divisional ticket is no longer available, as the loss to the Wild meant the Montreal Canadiens punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The only way into the postseason for Detroit is now through the wild card. However, there are six teams fighting for those two spots, so the Wings’ odds decrease tremendously.

Red Wings’ playoff drought

With the Buffalo Sabres clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2011, and snapping their 14-season playoff drought, the Red Wings could now carry the burden of the longest active playoff drought. For a franchise that once prided itself on making the postseason 25 years in a row, these are unforeseen levels of misery in Motor City. Detroit’s last playoff appearance was in 2016, and its last playoff series win came in 2013.

The Red Wings can still turn things around, but the loss against the Wild had the feel of a playoff-elimination defeat, even if it was in a regular-season outing. Needless to say, McLellan, Kane, and company can’t afford to point fingers around the locker room. Instead, they must figure out a way to make the postseason and avoid yet another heartbreaking end to the season.

“I just feel like you’re so day-to-day, and the season is flying by. Like, so much has happened. You don’t even really think about it until it’s here,” Hughes commented on his return to Vancouver, via Rink Wide: Vancouver’s Jeff Paterson. “Probably won’t feel real until warmups. It’s been such a long year, you don’t even process everything that’s going on.”

Hughes was drafted by the Canucks with the 7th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He quickly became a franchise cornerstone and blossomed into arguably the best defenseman in the league. In the 2022–23 season, he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy. Now, he returns to an arena he used to call home, only this time he will be wearing a different jersey.

For Hughes, it will also be his first game on Canadian ice since winning gold with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Whether that memory will play a role in how the home fans greet him at Rogers Arena remains to be seen. One thing is clear, though: the stage is set for an emotional return by all accounts.

Hughes’ numbers this season

With Vancouver spiraling out of control, it became clear that Hughes’ time with the organization would run out soon in the 2025-26 season. On December 12, 2025, the Wild acquired Hughes, and the defenseman has been nothing short of lights-out ever since.

Hughes had registered 23 points in 26 games with Vancouver this season. Since being dealt to Minnesota, he has put up 49 points (four goals and 45 assists) in 42 outings. Against the Canucks, Hughes will look to record his 50th career point with the Wild.

Clinching scenario for Wild against Canucks

The realities couldn’t be more different for Minnesota and Vancouver. As they go head-to-head, that contrast is on full display. The Wild can clinch a playoff spot with just one point against Vancouver, while the Canucks would lock in last place in the league standings with a loss of any kind.

There are other scenarios around the league that could lead to the same outcome, but that’s the bottom line. If Hughes and his new team walk away with a win in Vancouver, they will punch their ticket to the postseason while also ensuring the Canucks finish at the bottom of the standings—and, in turn, secure the best odds of landing the first overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery.

Along with the decision to keep their veteran center, the Rangers also made their final stance clear on several of Trocheck’s teammates who had been in the NHL rumor mill. Still, it appears New York set its price and no one met it. At the end of the day, the Rangers were in no hurry to move Trocheck and will continue to explore their options.

However, from a non–New Yorker perspective, much can be criticized about the Blueshirts’ stance, and that is exactly how Guerin sees things from his office in the Twin Cities. Guerin and the Wild are all in. Minnesota wants to take its name off the list of NHL teams that have never won the Stanley Cup, and its current roster may give it its best shot in a very long time.

“I thought winning gold with Chris Drury would have gotten me a little bit of a discount, but he wasn’t in that mood,” Guerin confessed in dialogue with Emily Kaplan of ESPN.

Rangers held their ground

Guerin’s comment only confirms what most reports suggested. New York knew its worth and, in a buyer’s market, set its asking price for Trocheck in stone. Aside from Trocheck, not many bona fide top-six centers were available, so the Rangers knew they had a chip every team would be after.

However, they weren’t going to have any of the lowball pursuits. Thus, one by one, suitors were crossed off the list, as no one brought enough to the table for the Rangers to accept.

What’s next for Rangers?

Now, the Rangers will keep Trocheck in town for the remainder of the 2025–26 NHL season. More likely than not, the Blueshirts will return to the market with Trocheck in the offseason. By then, though, who knows whether his price will go up or down.

One thing New York is encouraged by is the fact that Trocheck’s modified no-trade clause (M-NTC) will be more navigable, going from a 12-team veto list to a 10-team no-trade list. While two organizations may seem small on paper, perhaps one of them could become the trade partner the Blueshirts have been searching for a while.

NHL insider David Pagnotta provided an important update on the situation. “All indications are the Minnesota Wild are out on Vinny Trocheck. Focus shifting elsewhere for New York Rangers.”

If the Wild are indeed stepping away from negotiations, it could significantly change the landscape of the trade market for Trocheck. With one of the most aggressive suitors potentially out of the race, the Rangers may now turn their attention to other interested teams such as the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche or even the Boston Bruins as they continue evaluating their options before the deadline.

Vincent Trocheck won’t be traded to Wild

Vincent Trocheck will not be traded to the Minnesota Wild after the team decided to step away from negotiations with the New York Rangers. Minnesota had previously made a formal offer for the veteran, positioning themselves as one of the most serious suitors ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

However, the high asking price set by the Rangers ultimately became a major obstacle in the talks. With New York reportedly seeking a significant return, the Wild chose not to meet those demands and instead shifted their attention toward other potential additions.

As a result, Minnesota focused on completing different roster moves, including trades involving Bobby Brink and Nick Foligno. Those deals appear to signal that the Wild have moved on from the pursuit of Trocheck as they continue shaping their lineup for the remainder of the season.

While Bedard and the Blackhawks have nothing but respect and gratitude for Foligno, the young team in Windy City is ready to turn the page. That sentiment was made visible after Bedard broke his silence on recent Blackhawks trades with a clear message for the front office.

Now, Bedard—who recently secured a key promotion—becoming an alternate captain for the remainder of the campaign, dropped yet another powerful statement. This time, clearly reflecting the unapologetic mindset that a roster as filled with youth as Chicago’s would take.

“He better keep his head up out there for the boys,” Bedard jokingly said about Foligno, via Ben Pope of Chicago Sun-Times. “I think he’s going to look a little ugly in those jerseys.” Bedard’s Blackhawks and Foligno’s Wild will meet in a home-and-home series on March 17-19. On a more serious note, Bedard posted a message for Foligno on social media. “Gonna miss you, brother. Go win one,” he posted on Instagram stories.

New leader in Chicago

While Bedard’s message for Foligno was meant as banter, it could also reflect the new direction the Blackhawks are headed in—at the very least, the direction Bedard hopes his team takes. Foligno’s trade didn’t catch anybody by surprise. It was a very real possibility, especially after reports hinted Bedard could lose his captain following Foligno’s cryptic comment on his NHL future.

Still, just because the team was ready for it and expecting such a trade doesn’t mean they walk away from it unscathed. However, the Hawks have seen so many faces head out the door that they might be immune to the pain by now. Bedard made it clear that’s not the case—it stings.

Fortunately for Chicago, Bedard has made it his goal to guarantee the 2025–26 campaign was the last time the Blackhawks were sellers before the trade deadline, at least for as long as he is in town. With him trending to re-sign and be named captain ahead of next season, it looks like Bedard will be around for a long while.

Nick Foligno could be on his way to Minneapolis-St. Paul. The former Blackhawks captain is reportedly the latest acquisition for the Wild, who are making their push for a Stanley Cup no secret around the NHL. Joining Quinn Hughes and company, Nick Foligno will be joining his brother Marcus, who plays left winger for Minnesota.

“Sources say the Wild are closing in on acquiring Nick Foligno from Blackhawks,” insider Frank Seravalli stated on his X account.

While Nick’s name had been very loud in the rumor mill, not many saw the move to the Wild happening—even if it made complete sense. Still, GM Bill Guerin witnessed the impact the Hughes and Tkachuk brothers had on Team USA and may have decided to try his luck with Nick and Marcus Foligno ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After the NY Rangers received the Wild’s final offer for Vincent Trocheck, Foligno’s addition along with other moves may well signal Minnesota is officially out of the race for the veteran center.

Trade details

According to Emily Kaplan from ESPN, the Blackhawks aren’t retaining any percentage of Foligno’s $4.5 million cap hit, as Chicago has no retention slots remaining. Moreover, the reported return for the Hawks are future considerations. Essentially, the Hawks have given the green light for their captain to go chase his first Stanley Cup, and do so with his brother Marcus in Minnesota.

As reported by Michael Russo of The Athletic, Nick Foligno came close to signing with the Minnesota Wild in 2021. Instead, he chose to join the Boston Bruins at that time.

It took a while, but NHL fate has finally driven him to the Twin Cities. The Foligno brothers grew up playing together in Buffalo, New York. Now, they will get to relive those childhood memories, but this time with a Stanley Cup as the ultimate goal.