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Report: Wild are gauging goalie trade market

Chicago Blackhawks v Minnesota Wild

Chicago Blackhawks v Minnesota Wild

NHLI via Getty Images

Considering the fact that head coach Mike Yeo called out a particular overtime goal and plenty have pointed out the Minnesota Wild’s problems in net already, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that the team is reportedly looking for a netminder.

Just in case you were wondering, that does indeed seem to be the case, as GM Chuck Fletcher is testing the goalie trade market, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

What General Manager Chuck Fletcher is gauging is this: Do you give up significant assets now to get a short-term fix when there’s no guarantee a goalie can save the season or do you stay patient, continue to ride out the instability and wait for the right move to come along that will address the long-term need?

Fletcher didn’t comment on the issue, yet it’s hard to imagine a general manager who wouldn’t ask around at this point.

The Star-Tribune lists the following goalies as possibilities: Cam Ward, Antti Niemi, Jhonas Enroth, Michal Neuvirth, Viktor Fasth and Martin Brodeur.

Obviously, those netminders represent a wide array of different considerations, from pricey with term remaining (Ward), expensive but expiring deal (Niemi) and cheap-but-big-name (Brodeur).

With Yeo letting loose on his team during a recent practice and tension seemingly coming to a head in general, the Wild must at least explore avenues to improve. Who would you target if you were in Fletcher’s shoes?

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins