NHL short takes

If the Wild can add a scorer cheaply, GM Chuck Fletcher should consider it. Of course, it's debatable what cheaply would be.

One guy who may have made sense was Calgary's Jiri Hudler, who was traded to Florida on Saturday and would have made the Wild's small guys seem giant. Other potential rentals include Jamie McGinn (although how many more assets can Fletcher really give the Sabres?) or Calgary's David Jones.

The Wild has been linked to Loui Eriksson and Eric Staal, but they could cost a fortune in assets. Radim Vrbata is a scorer, but the price is high.

Lightning GM Steve Yzerman is trying to drum up business on Jonathan Drouin, who left his minor league team last month after going public with his request to be traded. The Wild showed interest, but it would be hard for a team looking for immediate impact to trade for Drouin since he's been skating and working out on his own for a month. Plus, Yzerman maintains he wants immediate help to his roster.

Jets captain Andrew Ladd, traded to Chicago, figured he was a goner after Winnipeg extended Dustin Byfuglien's contract.

"I think after Buff signed and we talked to [Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff], that's when I got the sense that it probably wasn't going to happen," said Ladd. "Then you obviously start thinking and hoping … you're going to go to a place that has a chance to win."