Key Minnesota Wild Trade Candidate To Be Out Until After Deadline

At the trade deadline, a player with a physical presence and a locker room leader with three Stanley Cup rings would be a highly-valued trade chip. Unfortunately for the Minnesota Wild, forward Pat Maroon will now be out until after the deadline, following back surgery.

Injury Update: Pat Maroon underwent successful back surgery yesterday and is expected to miss approximately 4-6 weeks.
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) February 8, 2024

Maroon is expected to be out four to six weeks. He's been out of the lineup since January 27th.

The 13-year veteran is certainly a known commodity by this point in his career, and he should be skating again before the deadline, although not playing in games, so this development doesn't necessarily preclude a trade. But back injuries are tricky, and especially given his physical style, not knowing how he'll respond to NHL action when he returns could be a problem for some inquiring teams.

Maroon has four goals and 12 assists for 16 points in 49 games this season. for his career, he has 121 goals and 183 assists for 304 points to go along with 990 penalty minutes in 778 career games. He's also suited up with the Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks.

The Wild are 21-23-5 with 47 points through 49 games, sitting 7th in the Central Division, while lagging seven points behind the St. Louis Blues in the Wild Card race in the Western Conference. They will be sellers at the deadline, and we presented last week a list of their five most likely trade candidates.

Photo: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports