Wild Stay Quiet On Draft's Opening Night, But Bill Guerin Says 'Tomorrow's A New Day'
· Yahoo Sports
The Minnesota Wild didn't make any headlines during the opening night of the 2026 NHL Draft, but General Manager Bill Guerin made it clear the team isn't done looking for ways to improve its roster.
Minnesota entered Friday night without a first-round pick after trading it to the Vancouver Canucks as part of last season's blockbuster deal for star defenseman Quinn Hughes. As a result, the Wild watched all 32 first-round selections from the sidelines.
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Guerin’s biggest move came in December when he swung a blockbuster trade for star defenseman Hughes, giving Minnesota the elite No. 1 defenseman it had been searching for.
When asked after the first round whether there had been any discussions about acquiring a first-round pick, Guerin said there simply wasn't much happening for Minnesota.
"We didn't really have anything going on today. Tomorrow's a new day. We're trying to improve our team each and every day. This is the time of year where a lot of that stuff is done. I didn't mind not having a first-round pick this year because we have Quinn Hughes, and sometimes that's just what you have to do. A lot of down time, and we like where we are."
Guerin's comments reinforced what the organization has maintained since acquiring Hughes. While giving up another first-round pick isn't ideal, Minnesota believes adding one of the NHL's elite defensemen was well worth the price and it clearly was.
Vancouver took Adam Novotný with the pick.
Although the Wild were quiet on Friday, Guerin also made it clear the front office isn't closing the door on making additional moves.
"Nothing's ever off the table. All the GMs, we're all in the same boat. We just want to make our teams better and do what's right for our organizations. There's a lot of time."
The second day of the draft presents Minnesota with its first selections of the weekend, and with trades traditionally picking up throughout Day 2 and free agency just days away, the Wild still have opportunities to reshape their roster before next season.
Friday may have been uneventful for Minnesota, but if Guerin's comments are any indication, the Wild's offseason work is far from finished.
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