NHL Trade Deadline: Minnesota Wild

After a slow start to Todd Richards' second season as head coach, there was much consternation in Minnesota. Could the Wild -- a picture of management stability with Doug Risebrough and Jacques Lemaire running things from the franchise's birth -- be about to make another coaching change?

The players had other ideas. Buying into Richards' system and philosophy, the Wild could be on the verge of making the playoffs.

As of Friday morning, Minnesota sits in sixth place in the West, but just two points separate them from 11th place. With captain Mikko Koivu out with a broken finger, and power forward Guillaume Latendresse still on the mend, general manager Chuck Fletcher has to make a tough decision at the trade deadline.

He won't sell, but should he buy, or hold off on adding more salary to a team close to the cap?

NEEDS

Minnesota needs more top-line scoring. The Wild have tough defenders, dedicated two-way forwards, and some big-play guys up front like Koivu and Martin Havlat. Latendresse's return -- which should happen in early March -- gives them a big goal-scoring threat.

But they could still use another top-six forward. Edmonton's Dustin Penner is a great fit, but could give Fletcher a cap headache this summer, as he is signed for next year at over $4 million. At a lower price, centers could be had, with Florida's Stephen Weiss being the biggest name available. Weiss, however, is signed through 2013 with a no-move.

No one would turn down defensive help at the deadline, but Brent Burns, Nick Schultz, Greg Zanon, Clayton Stoner, the recently-returned Marek Zidlicky, and surprising youngster Jared Spurgeon are just fine.

THE VERDICT

Fletcher has one salary he could move without disrupting his team's recent play, and that's struggling forward Chuck Kobasew. With just nine goals and 13 points in 46 games, Kobasew stands to be moved before Monday's deadline, if Fletcher can find a taker.

Outside of that, look for little change with Minnesota. This team is too close to the playoffs to sell, and too close to the cap to be a significant buyer.