Minnesota Wild
· 2026-07-03
The Minnesota Wild made a significant trade, sending Jake Middleton to Calgary in exchange for Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta.
The trade was announced on Thursday morning, with the Wild acquiring two veteran players to strengthen their roster.
The Wild had been quiet in the offseason, but this move signals a shift in their strategy.
Bill Guerin, the president of hockey operations, had been unsure of what to expect, but this trade shows the team's commitment to improving.
The Wild had lost key free agents and needed to make moves to remain competitive.
The addition of Coleman and Maatta will provide depth to the Wild's lineup, with Coleman scoring 20 goals and 15 assists last season.
Maatta played 22 minutes per game for Calgary, scoring 2 goals and assisting on 13 more in 21 games.
The Wild will be Maatta's 7th NHL team, and he will replace Middleton on the blue line.
And with the Wild standing 3rd in the Western Conference, with a 46-24 record and on a W1 streak, this trade could be a turning point.
The team's last result was a 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on April 15, 2026.
But the Wild still have work to do, with limited money to spend and a need to fill gaps in their roster.
So the trade for Coleman and Maatta is a step in the right direction.
The Wild will be Coleman's fourth NHL team, and he will provide a legitimate NHL center who regularly scores between 15 and 25 goals per season.
As the Wild look to improve, this trade is a positive sign for the team's future.