Sorry for the wall of text, but I wanted to give context behind this idea with rumors and quotes from reputable NHL sources.
Let me bring you back to a time before COVID was anything more than a virus overseas. A time when fans roamed the halls of NHL stadiums between intermission, collectively jumped in the air when their team scored, and high-fived friends and strangers in the seats beside them. This time is right before the trade deadline when rumors that Carolina was interested in one of the Wild's defenseman were swirling. Beat writer extraordinaire, Michael Russo, wrote an article, found at https://theathletic.com/1607678/2020/02/14/wild-lose-rangers-shootout-comeback-bill-guerin-trade-deadline/, writing "Carolina has long wanted Brodin and has shown some interest in Dumba since Dougie Hamilton was hurt, but it would seem highly unlikely they’d part with prospect center Martin Necas". This quote is inconspicuously written in the middle of a dense article and is almost easy to miss. But reading this quote, to me it indicates that Guerin was only willing to part with Brodin or Dumba for Necas if Carolina wanted one of them. Of course, it also states that Carolina is not interested in trading Necas, which is completely understandable and may shatter the idea of this post completely.
Fast forward 7 months where a global pandemic has swept the entire world and we are now bound to our favorite armchairs and crocking up stupid posts like this one. NHL star insider Pierre LeBrun dropped a bombshell article, found at https://theathletic.com/2040111/2020/09/02/lebrun-rumblings-laine-trade-talk-canadiens-moves-the-goalie-market-and-more/, stating "Do I think it’s a strong possibility the 22-year-old star winger [Patrik Laine] gets dealt? No. And the Winnipeg Jets certainly aren’t shopping him. But is it a possibility as Seravalli laid out? Yes. The Jets need to bolster their blue line after losing Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Chiarot, Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers since the end of the 2018-19 season. They also need to fill a hole at the No. 2 centre position." LeBrun goes on to state "A Trocheck-Pesce package might at least get Cheveldayaoff to listen for a moment even if the answer is ultimately no." but also earlier in the article says that "Now, I can tell you right now the Canes do not want to deal Pesce. They love his contract. I mean, love it.". To me, it sounds like a slightly underwhelming package for Laine and that the Canes aren't interested in moving Pesce, but they definitely want him. Would they give up Necas to get Laine on a line with fellow countryman and friend Sebastian Aho? I think the lethality of those two is too good to pass up and it could make a lot of sense, but Necas to Winnipeg still doesn't address their blue line needs.
Enter the Minnesota Wild, who have stud blue liners Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba available. I know they both get a lot of flack as 2nd pairing guys on this site, but head statistics writer Dom Luszczyszyn at The Athletic writes in an article found at https://theathletic.com/1956121/2020/07/29/2020-nhl-qualifying-round-preview-canucks-vs-wild/ "By my model, Brodin carries the highest defensive impact in the league with Spurgeon in third. Having one player on each of the top two pairs of that calibre is a big reason why the team is so stingy. That duo is a vital part of the team’s identity." That's high praise for Brodin. Brodin could fill the void of Pesce in a Laine trade that the Jets are looking for. Similarly, Matt Dumba is coming off a disappointing season, but to be fair he tore his pec during what seemed to be a breakout season when he scored 10 goals in 32 games, a pace of 25 goals in an 82 game season which is mighty impressive for a blue liner, especially a right shot blue liner which is a coveted asset in this league. I think both would be top pairing guys if it wasn't for Suter and Spurgeon on the Wild and could be very intriguing for the Jets.
Now, Dumba or Brodin certainly isn't enough for them to part with Laine, but the Wild have some promising prospects such as WHL player of the year and 2019 draft pick Adam Beckman, who led the WHL in scoring ahead of fellow 2019 classmate and 6th overall pick Dylan Cozens. There's also Matt Boldy, who scored 17 points in his final 10 NCAA games as a freshman after being moved from center back to his natural wing position. We could also offer Eric Staal, who is from Thunder Bay. Staal scored at a 58 point pace this season which is definitely good for a 2C behind Scheifele. Staal would likely thrive with wingers like Wheeler, Ehlers, or Connor to play with as well. I modeled this idea based on the fact that LeBrun thinks Pesce and Trocheck is enough to get Chevy thinking with the hopes that a great prospect is enough to tip the scale.
I don't think this is a likely trade, but it does make a little sense given the context in my opinion. Winnipeg has multiple holes to fill and the Wild could help fill them, while the Wild need a young promising center and the Canes hope that Laine scored 50-60 goals playing with Aho. Seems like a win all around to me.
Necas can't play center, yet. It only says center bc he used to be center but his defensive zone game is not close to where a center needs to be
Practice makes perfect, and we can shelter him if necessary while he learns. Plus, Eriksson Ek and Kunin are both very good in their own zone so don't need Necas to be a stalwart defensive player. Plus, I've viewed Necas as a center since his draft year.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
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