In a surprising move, the Minnesota Wild have acquired defenseman John Klingberg from the Anaheim Ducks. Klingberg, who signed a one-year deal with the Ducks worth $7 million, had had a solid season with 24 points in 50 games, but the Ducks have decided to move him as they look toward the future.
The Wild were quick to pounce on the opportunity to add a talented offensive defenseman to their lineup. Klingberg's best season came in 2017-18 with the Dallas Stars, where he recorded an impressive 67 points in 82 games. The Wild hope that Klingberg can bring that same level of production to their team and help them in their playoff push.
In addition to Klingberg, the Wild also added Oskar Sundqvist from the Detroit Red Wings and Marcus Johansson from the Washington Capitals. Sundqvist is a versatile forward who can play both center and wing, while Johansson is a skilled winger who can contribute offensively.
General manager Bill Guerin also managed to free up some salary cap space by acquiring a couple of draft picks in separate deals. The Minnesota Wild have been active in the trade market this season, and Guerin's moves have certainly shaken things up in Minnesota.
The Ducks will continue to stockpile assets for their rebuild. It's clear that they are willing to part with talented players if it means getting younger and cheaper. It remains to be seen what other moves they will make before the trade deadline, but it's clear that they are not afraid to make bold moves.
This has been a wild deadline for Minnesota, with the Wild making several moves to bolster their roster. The addition of Klingberg should make them a more dangerous team offensively, and it will be interesting to see how they fare in the playoffs.
Minnesota Wild's 2022-23 season so far
As of March 2, 2023, the Minnesota Wild have had a successful 2022-23 NHL season so far. They have played 62 games and currently have a record of 35 wins, 21 losses and six overtime losses. With 76 points, they are in second place in the highly competitive Central Division, just three points behind the division-leading Dallas Stars.
The Wild have been strong defensively, allowing just 168 goals against and earning a goal differential of +11. They have also been effective on offense, scoring 179 goals so far this season. In terms of tiebreakers, they have earned 24 regulation wins, which puts them in a good position in the standings.
Overall, the Minnesota Wild are in a solid position to make the playoffs and make a deep postseason run. They will need to continue to play well and stay competitive in the tough Central Division to achieve their goals, but their performances so far this season have been promising.