Minnestoa Wild Eyeing An Upgrade At Center

During today’s end-of-season press conference, Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin shed some light on his plans for the Wild this offseason. After a second-round exit at the hands of Cup-favorite Colorado, Guerin knows there’s work to be done if Minnesota is going to capture the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Guerin said re-signing Quinn Hughes is “priority one” this summer, as reported by Joe Smith of The Athletic. Guerin also talked about how much Hughes liked it here, how much of an impact he had on this team. This comes just days after the Wild’s superstar said he was “open to” an extension in Minnesota. 

Guerin also addressed his desire to upgrade the Wild’s top six this offseason, specifically down the middle. “I won’t sit on my hands,” Guerin said when asked about acquiring a number one center this offseason, as reported by Michael Russo with the Athletic. Guerin being asked about acquiring a center was somewhat anticipated, as it was reported over the weekend that Minnesota made an offer for the Blues top center, Robert Thomas, around the deadline. 

Now, aside from Thomas, the only true number one center whose name has started to circulate in trade rumors is Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews. Should the former 69-goal scorer truly become available, Guerin, along with 30 other General Managers, will likely make their bid. However, just because the trade market may not be full of superstar centermen, it does not mean there are no options for the Wild to make some upgrades down the middle. Here are a few options that might be on the market this offseason, according to Daily Faceoff’s Trade Board: 

1. Vincent Trocheck, NYR: The 32-year-old Rangers center has been mentioned in trade rumors for months, and as previously noted, New York is looking to move on from his contract, three years remaining at a $5.63MM AAV. Trocheck brings exactly the kind of game that fits a playoff-bound team: he’s a reliable two-way center with a strong faceoff record and legitimate playoff experience. While he may not be a true number one option, slotting him into Minnesota’s top six would push everyone down a line and significantly upgrade the Wild’s center depth. The asking price (a first-round pick, top prospect, and additional asset) is steep but not unrealistic for a team desperate to address a weakness. Trochek had 53 points in 67 regular seaosn games for the Rangers this pst season
2. Shane Wright, SEA: The former fourth-overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft is a different kind of swing entirely. Wright is just 22 years old and represents a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix, which makes Seattle’s willingness to move him surprising. Acquiring Wright would give Minnesota a young, controllable center to build around alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, though the Kraken’s asking price would likely be large given his age and potential. This is the upside play, a bet on what Wright could become rather than what he is today. Wright had 27 points this past season in 74 games played.
3. Mason McTavish, ANA: The former third-overall pick from the 2021 NHL Draft signed a long-term extension with the Ducks last offseason, but the 22-year-old took a step back in his first year on the new deal and has reportedly drawn interest on the trade market as a result. Despite the down year, McTavish still brings the size, physicality, and pedigree that would translate well to the Western Conference. A change of scenery alongside Minnesota’s young core could be exactly what unlocks his game, making him an intriguing buy-low candidate. It would be interesting to see what Anaheim’s asking price for McTavish would be, given his $7MM cap hit combined with a noticeable regression in his production. During the 2025-26 regular season Mctavish tallied 17 goals and 41 points in 75 games. 
4. Elias Pettersson, VAN: The biggest question mark of the group of potential center targets for the Wild.  After being part of the Hughes trade discussions previously, reports out of Vancouver suggest the Canucks may finally be open to moving the 27-year-old Swedish center. Pettersson carries a massive $11.6MM cap hit through 2031-32, which complicates any deal significantly, and his production has dipped significantly since his 102 point season back in 2022-23. That said, if any team has the assets and motivation to take a swing, it’s the Wild. Reuniting Pettersson with Hughes in Minnesota would be an interesting move, though the contract alone makes this a long shot. The question remains if Pettersson is just in desperate need of a change of scenery, or if his best hockey is already behind him.

Guerin says he won’t sit on his hands. Wild fans will be holding him to it. After years of early playoff exits and missed opportunities at the deadline, this offseason represents the clearest chance yet for Minnesota to finally swing big and address the necesarry upgrades to their center group.