The NHL of 2025 is a different game than the one Bill Guerin played two decades ago. Several talented players of Guerin’s era had their careers curtailed due to the back problems that came from the seemingly incessant cross checks one would endure from going to the opponents’ net front.
Today, the Wild general manager noted that the net-front cross checks are pretty much gone from the game, but going to either crease is still a risky proposition, which the Minnesota roster and an army of Wild fans have learned over and over this season.
“Defensemen can’t clear guys out of the front of the net because we don’t want cross checking in front of the net, because players are gonna get hurt. Well, now they’ve gotta stand there and block shots and they’re getting hurt from that,” Guerin said, in a 20-minute meeting with the media on Sunday before the Wild’s game with Boston. “I don’t have a concern about any of the guys. It just seems like every time this year we get hit with a puck, something breaks or somebody gets a bone bruise or a break or this or that, because our guys play hard and they do what it takes to win and sometimes that comes at a price.”
The price, as of Sunday, was three of Minnesota’s top players – forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek, and defenseman Jonas Brodin – missing from the lineup as the true push toward the playoffs begin, with no definitive timetable for when any of the trio will return. Although on Sunday Guerin reiterated that all three are expected back in uniform before the end of the regular season.
On Saturday, after the team’s third consecutive loss, Guerin worked a trade with Nashville to bring forward Gustav Nyquist back to the Wild for a second stint. Nyquist spent nine games in Minnesota two years ago, collecting five assists in six playoff games.
“We liked him when he was here before. We think his versatility, the way he plays the game, the sense, he fits,” Guerin said. “I think too, sometimes deadline acquisitions, it depends on who you get, they can have a hard time getting acclimated. So I think it’s kind of a bit of a luxury that he’s been here before and knows the players, knows the area a little bit, that’ll help.”
Guerin also addressed the team’s season-long struggle killing penalties, where they ranked 31st among the NHL’s 32 teams as of Sunday. They have a system in place, he said.
“It’s driving everyone bats–t crazy. But you know what, it’s one of those things, we need more,” Guerin admitted. “The structure is good, the plan is good. That’s part of execution. The players that are on the penalty kill need to execute at a higher level. That’s just it.”
The trade, which included Nashville continuing to pay half of Nyquist’s salary in exchange for a second round draft pick in 2026, puts Minnesota right back up against the NHL salary cap. Guerin said the recent demotion of Marat Khusnutdinov to Iowa was in part due to making the numbers work, and not all due to the forward’s pedestrian offensive numbers. It also means that between now and the Friday afternoon trade deadline, the Wild have little wiggle room with which to do more dealing. But Guerin is keeping his phone turned on.
“I’m not kicking my feet up and just taking a break. We’re going to proceed business as usual and see what’s out there,” he said. “You never know what…it could be a dollar for dollar. It could be an actual hockey trade. Those are pretty rare this time of year, but it could happen.”
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While so much of the narrative in 2024-25 has been about injuries, Guerin reiterated the message we have heard from coach John Hynes and others, that it’s not about the players who are missing, it’s about the once on the ice. The Wild had an outstanding first one-third of the season, and have put themselves in a great position to make the playoffs, despite the recent doldrums. The Nyquist trade, and anything else that happens between now and the trade deadline, is meant to provide more options for April and beyond.
“They put us in a good spot. We’ve played well, mainly all year. There have been some ups and downs but give them a boost. You know, they’ve earned it,” Guerin said. “They need a little boost right now, they need a little help and you know, for this time of year, I think we have to supply that for them.”
