Wild trade Calen Addison for late-round draft pick

The deal was first reported by NHL insider, Kevin Weekes, before Michael Russo (The Athletic) confirmed the report and revealed the draft pick compensation. San Jose also threw in RW Adam Raska, who totaled 0 points in 7 games with the San Jose Barracudas, of the AHL.

As @KevinWeekes first reported, Calen Addison is indeed being traded to the #sjsharks. #mnwild will receive a fifth-round pick in 2026, I’m told.

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) November 8, 2023

Related: How to Stream Timberwolves and Wild Games with Bally Sports App Not Working

I’m not sure what convinced the Wild to finally deal Addison, after opting to re-sign him for a one year contract just before the start of training camp. Or, maybe it was the Sharks who came to a halfway point they weren’t willing to cross during the offseason.

But what were once rumors are now reality. The Wild and Calen Addison are splitting ways. In 92 career games wearing a Minnesota Wild sweater, Addison totaled 38 points and just 5 goals. The 23-year-old has often been lauded for his skill on the power play, yet Calen never scored a goal while on the man advantage, though he did rack up 18 PP assists.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Don't mind us, just Addy-ing some fuel to our 🔥!

We've re-signed defenseman Calen Addison to a one-year contract!

Full details » https://t.co/efiHuvfQJL#mnwild pic.twitter.com/z5Xr2CzrlT

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) September 19, 2023

Wild Re-Sign Calen Addison, leaving little room under salary cap

Addison’s deal leaves the Wild with just over $800K in salary cap space, entering camp. There are a lot of questions surrounding the 2023 Wild, as they work through cap hell, thanks to the cap penalties being assessed after releasing Zach Parise and Ryan Suter over two years ago.

The 23-year-old former 2nd round pick has a lot to prove in 2023-24. For much of the offseason, it was widely believed the Wild would trade their Calen Addison, but a deal was never struck. As of now, according to Michael Russo (The Athletic), Addison is expected to play on the Wild’s 3rd line, while also getting heavy minutes on the power play.

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

The Wild will play at home vs the Kevin Fiala and the LA Kings on Tuesday night and Addison will be a healthy scratch for the fourth-straight game.

4th straight scratch for Addison https://t.co/prF9W6KWui

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 21, 2023

Calen Addison isn’t the only Wild rookie who has struggled in his debut 2023 season and spent time in the press box because of it. Marco Rossi got the same treatment earlier this season, before he was sent down to Iowa to get his game right.

Uncoachable Calen Addison?

But this situation feels different, mostly due to Addison’s attitude. Rossi knew he was playing poorly and that his confidence had taken a hit. Calen, on the other hand, has voiced his confusion over why he is getting scratched and scolded.

But there’s clearly something brewing here between the coaching staff and the rookie defenseman, who has been a spark for the power play but struggles in his own end. The fact this was the second time Addison has been sat over a three-month span means it’s a recurring problem; in December it was for just one game. And it seems as though Addison doesn’t completely agree with the coach’s assessment. Coaches told him he was playing “scared,” and not engaging.

“I’m not scared out there,” Addison said.

Michael Russo – The Athletic

A peak behind the curtain shines even more light on what the Wild brass are worried about, with the 22-year-old defenseman. At this point in his career, Addison isn’t coachable. Evason thinks he’s playing a certain way (scared), which is a difficult reality to face. But instead of using Evason’s words to get better, Calen rebukes and denies that a problem even exists.

Dean has asked Addison to watch and tap on Jared Spurgeon, to help his game. That makes sense since “Spurgy” is one of the best undersized defenseman in hockey. Did Calen take that advice to heart? Nope. According to Spurgeon, himself, Addison never asks anything.

If Addison is watching Spurgeon, that’s one thing. But he’s surely not fully taking advantage of a potential goldmine of a resource.

“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.

Michael Russo – The Athletic

Addison on the trade block

Calen Addison isn’t the only party who has received criticism for his benching. Russo and others have questioned the timing of Dean Evason’s recent decision making on multiple subjects, including the healthy scratches he’s handed out over the last couple of months.

But that fact won’t save Addison, who was on the Wild’s trade block even before this most recent benching. Clearly, Evason and Guerin are worried about Calen’s mental makeup. So, it’s no surprise they’d deal him if given a good opportunity.

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

The Minnesota Wild have a few reported trade candidates. Jordan Greenway, Matt Dumba and now Addison have all been tagged, at one point or another, as players who could be on the move. What Guerin chooses to do could be dictated by how many games they win, leading up to the trade deadline.

Currently, Minnesota holds the final wildcard spot in the West. If they impress, Guerin could look to add for a playoff run. If they pile up a few losses, he could very well choose to sell

The puck drops tonight vs the Kings at 7 PM.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan