The Minnesota Wild being interested in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins isn’t a new story but the move could finally be set to take place. As teams throughout the NHL continue to asses their options ahead of the new season, the prospect of the Edmonton star making the switch to Minnesota has reared its head again. The Wild’s need for a forward has been evident ever since their failed trade deadline hunt for a frontman, which resulted in a host of names being linked with the franchise, who could have really done with more offensive options last season.
The Oilers have made it clear that every player on the roster, with the exception of Connor McDavid, was tradeable, with Edmonton desperately needing to bolster their blueline. So, with both teams open to a trade, we could be set to a see a deal that works for all parties. Nugent-Hopkins is certainly a player who Minnesota are keen on acquiring, and it’s not hard to see just why general manager Chuck Fletcher has been trying to get this deal over the line for the past few months. While the trade didn’t come off before the deadline, the Wild’s need for a top six forward still hasn’t been solved, and they are now strongly tipped to make a real push for the 2011 number-one Draft pick during the offseason
Although the Wild aren’t being tipped by many to be genuine contenders in the playoffs next year, punters looking for a sensible wager on which to use their free bets could do a lot worse that back Minnesota to reach the postseason for a sixth straight campaign. The 2015/16 season might not have ended in the way the Wild fans wanted, but the franchise proved once again they have the makings of a very good team, one potentially capable of eventually challenging for the Stanley Cup. The addition of a couple of new faces, not least in attack, could potentially make next season an extremely successful one.
Nugent-Hopkins would definitely be a great start to the recruitment process, bringing with him offensive ability, youth and a decent level of experience in the NHL. The 23 year old has passed 50 points in three of his five seasons with the Oilers, although last year was a relatively modest one for the Canadian international, scoring 12 goals and 34 points for an Edmonton team that failed to reach the playoffs for the 10th year in a row. Nugent-Hopkins will definitely want to be playing in a competitive outfit at this stage of his career, and there is little sign that the Oilers will be able to call themselves that anytime soon.
A number of factors will ensure the Wild are stronger next season, not least the return of some key players who were forced to spend large spells of the campaign sidelined with injury. With those players returning and a string of new faces set to arrive at the franchise this summer, 2016/17 could well be a memorable one for Minnesota and their fans.
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