Report: MN Wild Targeting Three Centers, Need One
While the Stanley Cup Finals aren't even over yet, the summer isn't as young as you'd think. The NHL Draft is scheduled for two weeks from yesterday, June 27, and free agency begins early next week, July 1.
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In a perfect world, the Wild would have their centerman swap complete by the start of the draft, but for sure by July 1, when Rossi will be able to sign offer sheets from other teams that Minnesota would be forced to match, or lose their 23-year-old former No. 9 overall pick.
Minnesota Wild running out of center options…
Unfortunately for the Minnesota Wild, their search hasn't gone as planned. Their No. 1 target, as reported by Michael Russo and Joe Smith (The Athletic) was 'one of us' center, Brock Nelson, but then he signed with the Colorado Avalanche.
Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
In that same article, it was reported that other veterans the Wild are chasing probably won't happen either. Sam Bennett is going to cost too much and plans to return to Florida. Claude Giroux plays mostly wing and wants to remain a Senator. Could that mean Marco Rossi could return, after all?
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Maybe, but in a new note written at The Athletic on Saturday, there are still three others centers who president of hockey operations Bill Guerin still has his eyes on.
According to the aforementioned, Joe Smith (The Athletic), Guerin doesn't just want to land one of John Tavares, Jonathan Toews or Matt Duchene… the Wild 'need to get [one].' Their top choice, at least for now, appears to be Tavares.
The Wild's main need is up the middle, and now they're on Plan B after target Nelson re-signed with the Avalanche. Tavares' priority has been to stay in Toronto, but if he gets to market, he'd give Minnesota the experienced, two-way center who could take some pressure off Joel Eriksson Ek. The Wild need to get Tavares, Duchene or Jonathan Toews to address the position, especially after missing out on Nelson.
Joe Smith – The Athletic
Minnesota Wild Target No. 1: John Tavares
John Tavares, 34, would immediately give the Minnesota Wild what they are looking for, at the center position. That is, if he isn't slapped by father time, which wasn't the case last season, when he potted 38 goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the most he's scored since 2018-19, when he put 47 pucks in the net.
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In 75 games last year, Tavares posted 74 total points on 18:14 average TOI. His goals and points would have led the Wild, who were led by Matt Boldy's 27 goals and 73 points.
If Billy can pry him from Toronto and keep himself from offering the world for an aging star… this move would be a huge win in Minnesota. Imagine this dude next to Kirill Kaprizov or Matt Boldy…
Wild Target No. 2: Matt Duchene
Dallas Stars center, Matt Duchene (also 34 y/o), would seemingly fit the bill too, though Smith and Russo noted in their joint article earlier this week that the Minnesota Wild don't appear to be crazy about him.
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Related: Minnesota Wild Getting Cold Feet on Marco Rossi Trade?
Duchene played all 82 games last season, scoring 30 goals and assisting on 52 more (+13). His 82 points placed the Haliburton, Ontario native tied for 20th in the league. In his 16 year NHL career, Matt Duchene has played for five different teams.
MN Wild Target No. 3: Jonathan Toews
Meanwhile, Minnesota Wild fans know exactly who Jonathan Toews is, after they watched his star-studded Blackhawks teams of yesteryear cleanup on our favorite NHL club.
Fast forward a few years, and we haven't seen Toews play since 2022-23, after he stepped away from hockey to recover from Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS). But in 2025-26 the now 37-year-old Toews is planning a comeback.
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His last couple seasons in Chicago, the former superstar was a shell of himself, posting 68 total points in 124 games between 2021-2023, along with a -45 point differential while on the ice. I have to imagine this is Bill Guerin's emergency option, though The Athletic says there are multiple teams trying to sign him.
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