Minnesota Wild’s Injuries Force Their Hand in Nyquist Trade!

The Minnesota Wild have been hit with injury after injury this season, including several players who’ve been hit more than once. Kirill Kaprizov had lower-body surgery and is out longer than expected, Joel Eriksson Ek hit the injury list for the third time this season, and numerous other names have hit that list. It seems like there have been more players injured than not this season, but they’ve found a way through. 

However, with the recent injury blows to Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek, the Wild have taken, it’s not surprising that they moved ahead of the trade deadline on Mar. 7. They had lost the past two games after having leads. They needed something to snap their lineup out of this funk. Instead of a new face, they traded for someone who’s been a part of the lineup before and someone Wild fans were initially excited about the first time around: Gustav Nyquist. In this article, we’ll examine why the Wild went this way and how it will affect them, starting with his speed. 

Nyquist Brings Talents 

Nyquist was impressive in his first stint with the Wild back in 2022-23, even though he only played three games with them during the regular season. He’s a smaller-built forward but has a lot of speed and the ability to know where to be at the right time. He likes to be in front of the net, which is exactly what the Wild need more of, especially with Eriksson Ek out. 

The Wild desperately need more goals, and with their top players out, this could be the answer they’re looking for to get some scoring going. While he’s speedy, he’s also patient, and in the numerous breakaways he’s earned with his speed, he finishes them out by being patient and waiting the goaltender out. 

These attributes make him valuable to a team like the Wild, who need a fresh face to get their team headed in the right direction. He has 21 points on the season, which they could use as they’re struggling to get any points currently. It’s not a huge number but anything could help them right now with the rut they’ve found themselves in the past few games.

Nyquist Has the Experience

Nyquist has the talents the Wild need, like speed, a net-front presence, and a high hockey I.Q., but the most important asset of his game is possibly his experience. He’s been in the NHL for 15 seasons, eight of those with the Detroit Red Wings, one with the San Jose Sharks, three with the Columbus Blue Jackets, one with the Wild, and finally, the last two with the Nashville Predators. 

He’s never won a Stanley Cup, but he’s been a part of several strong teams over the years. With each passing season, he’s gained valuable experience that he can pass on to younger members. That experience is something the Wild can lean on as the season goes along. He’s seen almost everything, especially getting teams through struggling times.