Wild acquires Arizona's Martin Hanzal, Ryan White

The Wild acquired Arizona Coyotes center Martin Hanzal and forward Ryan White for draft picks.

By mikerusso

February 27, 2017 at 3:08AM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Wild has acquired Arizona Coyotes center Martin Hanzal, forward Ryan White and a 2017 fourth-round pick for its 2017 first-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick, a conditional 2019 fourth-round pick and minor-league center Grayson Downing.

If the Wild wins one playoff round this year, the 2019 draft pick becomes a third-round pick. If it wins two rounds, it becomes a second-round pick.

However, I've confirmed that if Hanzal doesn't play 50 percent of the Wild's playoff games, the Wild retains the pick outright (injury insurance).

The Coyotes retain 50 percent of Hanzal's $3.1 million cap charge to make it work.

Hanzal will wear No. 19, White No. 21.

With the amount of prospects coming, giving up draft picks is clearly more tolerable for the Wild. Remember, Wild's young core is completely intact for awhile, so draft picks will be used as currency.

"Chuck and Brent are locked in a room. I don't know what's going on," coach Bruce Boudreau said after the Wild's hour-long practice tonight, referring to GM Chuck Fletcher and assistant GM Brent Flahr.

But, Fletcher right before he booked it from practice confirmed to me they were "waiting to find out" if the deal would be done. The trade call is taking place now.

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Hanzal, 30, a solid two-way centerman whose 16 goals tie his career-high, ranks eighth in Coyotes/Jets history with 608 games played and his 313 points rank fifth since the club's relocation from Winnipeg and 14th in franchise history.

Hanzal's 117 goals rank 13th in franchise history. He ranks sixth in the NHL this season with a .560 faceoff winning percentage (Mikko Koivu is 11th).

Coyotes reporter Craig Morgan sent me some quotes:

Hanzal said it was particularly hard to say goodbye to Shane Doan. "He was like a 2nd father to me. He's been helping me since Day 1"

Hanzal also noted it was hard saying goodbye to countryman Radim Vrbata, but he knows they will see each other a lot in the future. Hanzal said he has been expecting a trade for "the last 2 weeks" since the sides had not engaged in contract talks since the summer.

"It's been a good 10 years but I'm really looking forward to being in the playoffs and stepping on the ice to help Minnesota," Hanzal said.

On Fox Sports Arizona during first intermission, a disappointed Doan said (courtesy of NHL.com's Jerry Brown), "You play with a guy like that for 10 years and you understand how valuable (he is) and how you can't really replace him. The fact we just continue to seem go ... I don't know, it's hard to understand. You understand people's hands are tied, but you just don't get it."

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White, 28, a rugged center and right wing, has scored seven goals and 13 points in 46 games this season with 70 penalty minutes. He has 29 goals and 29 assists in 294 career games with 433 penalty minutes. He's decent on faceoffs from the right side. I'd think he starts off playing for Jordan Schroeder.

Coyotes reporters say he's a great quote (all that matters) and teammates love him.

Both Hanzal and White are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer.

I've got to think Zac Dalpe heads back to Iowa tomorrow assuming Hanzal debuts.

The trade isn't official yet, so it'll be awhile before we speak again to Fletcher and Boudreau.

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