NHL Rumors: Potential Deal Coming from Jets and Wild

The Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild may be divisional rivals but this season they could end up doing business together. The Jets have been scouting the Wild pretty heavily lately and could be working out the specifics of a pre-deadline deal.

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Rumor has the Wild interested in depth at center ice and Paul Statsny of the Jets being their main target. The 36-year-old veteran is in the final season of his contract paying him $3.75 million and has recorded 21 points in 36 games this season. Statsny has over 100 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience and the Wild have a very tight knit group so he's the perfect type of personality to be added to their mix as he's known as one of the best teammates in the league.

Don't expect to see the Wild sell the farm this season to a playoff push but general manager Bill Guerin will be busy working the phones and dangling some mid-level prospects and likely the team's second-round pick. Guerin bought out veterans Ryan Suter and Zach Parise last offseason and while it created loads of cap space this season, it's next year and beyond he has to worry about. The two are on the books for over $12.6 million next season and over $14 million in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

As for the Jets they are only five points out of the second wild card spot in the west and won't be moving anybody until they figure out exactly if they are buyers or sellers. With just over a month before the trade deadline, this type of deal between two rivals will have to wait until the final minutes leading up to the deadline.

Other potential Wild pieces that could be moved for some depth down the middle include young defenseman Calen Addison and forward Victor Rask. Keep an eye on Guerin, he absolutely loves his team and will be trying to do whatever he can to provide them with the best possible chance to make some noise in the Stanley Cup playoffs.