Minnesota Wild Claim Veteran; Waive Homegrown Forward
The Minnesota Wild enter this week fresh off two-straight losses over the weekend vs the Utah Mammoth and St. Louis Blues. On Tuesday, they’ll look to end their skid at home against Tampa Bay, before a two day break leading up their next game on Friday… just hours after the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline expires at 2 p.m. CST.
Meanwhile, Wild president of hockey operations Bill Guerin continues to search out ways to improve the roster, by all means necessary, a mission that didn’t slow down while the league took a midseason break so the 2026 USA Olympic men’s hockey team he built won its first Gold Medal in 46 years.
Robby Fabbri claimed by Minnesota Wild
And while we all wait impatiently for the Wild’s second blockbuster trade this season, Billy made a move on Monday to help solidify the deeper lines on Minnesota’s roster, claiming 30-year-old Robby Fabbri off waivers, after he was cut loose by the division rival Blues… who beat the Wild Sunday.
#mnwild claim Robby Fabbri. Had an 18- and 17-goal year with Detroit and played 10 playoff games during Blues Cup run. Scored at least 15 goals 4x in career
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 2, 2026
Robby Fabbri is in the middle of his 10th NHL season. Selected 21st overall back in 2014, the 5’11”, 185 lb center once looked like a top six centerman.
While that projected fell flat, he’s produced double digit goals seven times during his career. He’s reached 30 points five times, and just two seasons ago, Fabbri potted 18 goals for the Detroit Red Wings. Now, he should add an offensive punch to Minnesota’s fourth line.
Fabbri played in just 15 games for the Blues this season, but over the past three years, he’s 51.4% of his faceoffs, an area where the MN Wild have struggled mightily of late.
No, likely 4th-line winger, maybe penalty kill, maybe can chip in offensively. Just a free player that they hope upgrades their bottom-6 https://t.co/DKli50dEAM
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 2, 2026
Wild waive Tyler Pitlick, make tweaks in Iowa
In a corresponding move to the Fabbri claim, the Minnesota Wild have waived Minneapolis native, and former Minnesota State Maverick, Tyler Pitlick.
The 34-year-old played in 32 games for the 2026 Wild, scoring just two goals and posting a cumulative minus-24 goal differential, while he’s on the ice.
Beyond just improving the fringes of their NHL roster, the Minnesota Wild have been active today at the AHL level too, swinging a trade for more defense depth in Iowa — adding Roman Schmidt and sending Boris Katchouk to Philly — a deal that may or may not be foreshadowing for something bigger down the road.
minor league trade coming through: #mnwild acquire defenseman Roman Schmidt from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Boris Katchouk.
— Jessi Pierce (@jessi_pierce) March 2, 2026
Schmidt will report to the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League (AHL).
There have been some rumblings recently that the Wild are shopping failed 1st round pick David Jiricek, who Guerin traded a first round pick to Columbus for last season.
Unfortunately, that deal has not shown well for the Minnesota Wild, since it was agreed upon. Across 25 NHL games this year, Jiricek has yet to collect ONE point. The only statistics he’s managed are 19 blocks, 8 hits, but a whopping 24 giveaways (just 3 takeaways).
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