Michael Russo (The Athletic) was so on top of the trade talks between Minnesota and the Avalanche that he was reporting the trade complete before he knew the team or the return. In fact, Guerin was still on the phone trying to complete the trade when Russo started tweeting about it.

Avs are believed to be the team. As we reported in our mailbag, Avs were hard after him https://t.co/MxpJ7KUVt7

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 7, 2024

What are Minnesota Wild losing in Brandon Duhaime?

The 26-year-old Duhaime has scored a career 35 points in 193 games (3 seasons) with the Wild, including 19 goals and 16 assists. What Guerin and other teams like most about Brandon is his ability to play up and down the lineup, along with his willingness to drop gloves and stand up for teammates whenever called upon. Inquiring teams probably saw this video and decided, ‘yeah, we’re in on that’.

Duhaime doesn't mess around 😤#MNWILD | #NHL pic.twitter.com/N3V2PsDl6e

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) January 20, 2024

Related: NHL Scout Scoffs at What Minnesota Wild Have to Offer at Trade Deadline

There have been other names floating around, including Connor Dewar, who is even younger than Duhaime. But Marc-Andre Fleury has already decided he wants to stick around St. Paul. Zach Bogosian signed an extension yesterday. Pat Maroon, even while injured, could still be moved before Friday’s deadline.

But this year, crickets. Why? Because general manager Bill Guerin gave extensions with no-trade clauses to most of his best veteran deadline assets like Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Johansson, Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman and all of them had heavy trade protection.

NHL Scout on Minnesota Wild: “They’ve got s*** to trade”

Thus, front offices across the league are disengaged with what’s happening in the state of hockey. So much so that one team scout looked at NHL insider Jim Cerny (Sportsnaut) like he had dropped in on him from Mars when asked if there are any players of interest being dangled in Minnesota. “They’ve got shit to trade”, he told the veteran reporter bluntly.

Forward Brandon Duhaime, who’s scored four goals and is second on the Wild with 66 penalty minutes, is most likely to be traded since he can be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

But that didn’t excite one personnel figure, who told Sportsnaut, “The Wild? They’ve got [expletive] to trade. Unless you tell me they’re dealing Marco Rossi or something.”

Jim Cerny – Sportsnaut

That quote of gold shows how ridiculous the reports were last week that claimed Brandon Duhaime was really getting other teams across the league excited, leading up to the trade deadline. Those reports smelled fishy last week and whichever league scout gave Sportsnaut that quote proved what we already knew. That nobody cares about Brandon Duhaime. Let’s be real. If he was any good, he’d be playing more for the Wild.

Marc-Andre Fleury staying changes Bill Guerin’s plans

With Marc-Andre Fleury wanting to stick around, and possibly even sign a contract extension to remain with the Minnesota Wild for one more season, the rest of the league knows that this franchise has nothing worthy to offer anyone at the 2024 trade deadline. Come chat with us again this offseason, is pretty much the attitude.

Related: Wild’s Jake Middleton Uses Jeremy Lauzon’s Face as Punching Bag in Epic Beatdown

Is that good or bad? It’s indifferent. But there’s no doubt that re-upping on all those veterans and passing out no-trade clauses like they are candy has strapped Guerin from an options standpoint, in the short-term. By the time the Parise/Suter buyout penalties fall off the books in 2025-26, what is the temperature of Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber? Time will tell.

I’m not saying Bill Guerin should start worrying about his job because I do not feel that way yet. But there’s no doubt he has used up a lot of the honeymoon phase he carried into this post Parise/Suter era of Wild hockey. We all knew it would be a difficult couple years when those buyouts were hitting the hardest. But living it is harder than digesting the theory back then.

** An earlier version of this article had the above quote being from an NHL “executive. Shortly after posting, I was corrected and told it was a team scout who said it, not an executive.

But whether they are buyers or sellers before the trade deadline next week, it appears the Wild are shopping forward Brandon Duhaime either way. And there appear to be several interested teams.

Veteran NHL insider Frank Seravalli (Daily Faceoff) mentioned the Canucks as one team that likes Duhaime but Jacob Stoller (Hockey News) went even further, noting that Vancouver isn’t the only team pursuing the 26-year-old right winger.

Minnesota Wild could get haul for Brandon Duhaime at trade deadline

Further to @frank_seravalli's report re: the #Canucks being interested in Brandon Duhaime:

They're not the only ones.

If the #MNWild fall out of the playoff race, I wouldn't be surprised if GM Bill Guerin is able to get a haul for Duhaime.

Lot of teams are high on Duhaime,…

— Jacob Stoller (@JLStoller) February 26, 2024

Brandon Duhaime has collected 6 points in 58 games so far this season, and has had very little impact offensively. He does lead the team in penalty minutes, however… so take that however you want. If Wild general manager Bill Guerin really can gain anything near “a haul”, the Wild should absolutely consider making a move.

Related: Wild Prospect Danila Yurov is Stacking Points in the KHL Even Faster than Kirill Kaprizov Did

Duhaime’s role primarily lies on the fourth line, sometimes even in the press box. If other teams perceive greater potential in him, perhaps it’s time for the Wild to move on. Micheal Russo from The Athletic also suggests that it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Wild won’t re-sign “Dewey 1” this offseason.

Don’t be surprised, even if the Wild aren’t in “sell mode,” if Guerin at least contemplates trading Dewy 1 and Dewy 2. Teams looking to improve their bottom six are calling, especially about Brandon Duhaime. He’s 26, fast, physical, is a willing fighter and kills penalties, but it’s becoming increasingly clear the Wild don’t plan to re-sign him this offseason..

Russo – The Athletic

Duhaime has spent his entire career with the Wild, after they drafted him in 2016. He made his NHL debut with Minnesota in 2019, but it appears he is approaching his final games in a Wild sweater, whether he is traded now or walks away in free agency this offseason.

Brandon Duhaime drops William Lockwood

On Friday night in Florida vs the Panthers, 25-year-old winger William Lockwood, was not ready and he paid dearly for it. First, he ate about six Duhaime right hands before one caught his chin. Down he went and his chin paid the price one more time, this time via ice.

Duhaime doesn't mess around 😤#MNWILD | #NHL pic.twitter.com/N3V2PsDl6e

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) January 20, 2024

Related: A Matt Dumba Reunion Might be Wild’s Best Option to Replace Jared Spurgeon

Lockwood isn’t known as a fighter and it showed tonight. In 50 games played during his NHL career, he has just 16 total penalty minutes. Maybe he can take some karate classes or something, before his next fight?

If you can’t take the smoke, stay away from Marc-Andre Fleury

The 1st period of this hockey game saw three fights and it all started when Lockwood upended Marc-Andre Fleury behind his own net. Complete chaos ensued afterwards but the Wild ended up with a power play, which they scored off of.

Fleury gets hit playing the puck behind the net and chaos breaks out pic.twitter.com/YOIxzo09Cw

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) January 20, 2024

The final fight of the period came immediately after Foligno left the box for a boarding penalty on Oliver Eckman-Larson. He jumped back onto the ice and charged Jonah Gadjovich, who accepted his challenge.

Related: Timberwolves, Wild Streams Officially Coming to Amazon Prime; Twins’ Future Still in Flux

Filip Gustavsson notched a shutout in his final warmup before the regular season begins on Thursday. Kirill Kaprizov potted a goal early in the 3rd and Mats Zuccarello notched two impressive assists. Oh, and Ryan Hartman got a postgame contract extension.

Related: Dean Evason Hot Seat Check: 6 Questions for Minnesota Wild Entering 2023-24

Minnesota Wild strong preseason overshadowed by 3rd period chaos

But things started to unravel on the ice, after Marco Rossi’s goal a bit later in the period, when Pat Maroon and Jamie Benn went toe-to-toe on the ensuing face-off.

Too much happening, Rossi pots one home, and Maroon takes on Benn. #mnwild pic.twitter.com/EieOADWHop

— Wild Takes (@WildTakes10k) October 8, 2023

Clearly, the Wild used this preseason game, not only to get their minds right for the regular season, but to exact revenge on a divisional rival who they lost an intense playoff series to last season.

And the crowd at the Xcel Energy Center was no different. When Benn was in the penalty box, after his fight with Maroon, a fan threw popcorn on his head and he lost his mind.

A fan just threw popcorn at Jamie Benn in the penalty box and now he's screaming at the fans. This is turning ugly

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) October 8, 2023

Brandon Duhaime vs Mason Marchment

If there was any question about their intent entering the final period, Brandon Duhaime put an end to that when he went begging for a fight with Mason Marchment, that he eventually got. When the dust settled on the scrum, Marchment got a 10-minute game misconduct and Duhaime got a 2-5-10 for instigating it.

Brandon Duhaime wants to go with Mason Marchment off the draw. Marchment says no. Duhaime hammers Dellandrea and eventually doesn't give Marchment the choice.

Absolute chaos pic.twitter.com/y0mW9LWWfj

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 8, 2023

Minnesota finishes their preseason 5-1-0 and, as noted earlier, will drop the puck on their regular season, Thursday, when they play the Florida Panthers in St. Paul.

Read all of our Minnesota Wild blogs

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Calen Addison has struggled to grow up.

Addison seemed to have issues with what Guerin and head coach, Dean Evason, wanted from him, which was to stop playing scared. “I’m not scared”, the rookie told The Athletic back in February. Even more concerning was Calen’s disinterest in doing what it takes to be a reliable NHL defenseman. Even Jared Spurgeon went on the record about how little Calen was interested in taking advice or getting help from veterans on how to improve his play.

“He never really comes over to ask anything,” Spurgeon said. Spurgeon wasn’t being critical. He did say he’s talked with Addison on a number of occasions, pointing out things in practice and stuff like that. He brought up issues he himself had in his first few seasons.

Whether Addison fully agrees with the coaches, it’d be smart to tap into Spurgeon as much as he can. Do a one-on-one video session. Go out for a coffee. Addison may never be Spurgeon, but if he wants to be part of this team’s future, he’ll need to be an improved version of himself. As we’ve speculated — even before the scratches — Addison could be trade bait heading into the deadline, or more likely this offseason. And this might lead to more credence to that theory.

Michael Russo – The Athletic (Feb. 20, 2023)

Minnesota Wild changing tune on Addison’s future

But a few months later, with July just over the horizon and days now getting shorter, the Wild seem to have changed their mind on Addison’s future with the team. Why? Unless they can get really good value (2nd round pick or better) Guerin & Co can’t really afford to replace him with someone better.

As a rookie, Calen Addison is an affordable asset with very talented upside. He isn’t afraid to shoot the puck and runs the power play better than any other defenseman on the team — besides maybe Matt Dumba, who is unlikely to return next season.

Even if he isn’t the perfect replacement for Dumba, Addison isn’t a bad option, as a 3rd line defenseman, if Brock Faber can make his move up to the top-4. In fact, should Calen improve his game defensively and continue to excel on the power play, he’s probably a better fit for what the Wild need than anyone Guerin could replace him with.

If the Wild were offered a second-round pick or something for Calen Addison (No. 26), they may trade him. But despite his string of healthy scratches last season, the Wild need somebody to run the No. 1 power play, and that’s where he’s excelled, with a rookie-leading 18 power-play points.

The Athletic Staff (June 24, 2023)

Foligno, Goligoski, Gustavsson expected to stay; Duhaime, Steel likely gone

According to that same article clipped above and other recent reports from Joe Smith and Michael Russo (The Athletic), Alex Goligoski has decided he wants to stay in Minnesota, even if it comes with time being a healthy scratch, like he was for much of last season. If that’s his decision, his full no-move clause will make secure his spot on the roster.

Bill Guerin isn’t sweating contract negotiations with starting goalie, Filip Gustavsson. If all else fails, they’re prepared to let an arbitrator decide his salary for next season, which is expected to be $3-3.5 million.

The Wild must be perturbed that they’ve yet to reach a deal with the RFA, but if worse comes to worst, they can just elect arbitration on July 6 with an eventual one-year award of likely around $3-$3.5 million.

The Athletic Staff (June 24, 2023)

Earlier this offseason, we wondered out loud if Marcus Foligno would be a cap casualty this offseason, given the trade value he still has and a decline in play toward the end of last season and into the playoffs, but Guerin has no plans to move one of his best locker room leaders.

The same cannot be said for Brandon Duhaime, who is expected to be traded. Another youngster expected to be elsewhere next season is Sam Steel. The Wild can’t afford him and they know it so they’re unlikely to tender him a qualifying offer, which will make him an unrestricted free agent.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan