Stanley Cup contenders are officially anointed between the boards, but the Wild's off-ice decisions have it acting the part.
With a severe salary cap pinch looming and the team still hovering near the top of the Western Conference despite a monthlong swoon, the Wild signaled its playoff ambitions by adding future Hall of Fame goaltender and reigning Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury in the NHL's splashiest acquisition on Monday ahead of the trade deadline.
"It's because of what these guys have done all year, the way that they've played and the way that they've changed things around here," General Manager Bill Guerin said. "This is a credit to them.
"I'm doing my job."
The Wild acquired Fleury from Chicago, sending the Blackhawks a 2022 conditional first-round draft pick that'll downgrade to a second-rounder if the Wild fails to advance to the Western Conference Final and Fleury doesn't post at least four wins through the first two rounds.
Chicago also retained half of Fleury's contract, a three-year, $21 million deal that's up after this season when the 37-year-old is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.
"It's a great opportunity for me, coming here to a good team, making the playoffs and having a chance of making a run here," Fleury said. "I'm excited about that."