The Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes are both in strange positions in their respective conferences when it comes to playoff races, so the two teams swapped similar players under similar contracts. The Wild sent left wing Nino Niederreiter to the Hurricanes for center Victor Rask on Thursday night, with the NHL Trade Deadline approaching. The trade was made right before the Wild played host to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, so Rask was not with the team for that contest. Minnesota went on to fall in a shutout to the Ducks, 3-0, on their home ice. The Hurricanes could have Niederreiter for their game Friday night against the Ottawa Senators.
The 26-year-old Niederretier has nine goals and 14 assists over 46 games this season for the Wild, and he is just in the second season of a five-year, $26.25 million contract that he signed with his now former team. Minnesota brought in the 25-year-old Rask, who has one goal and five assists in 26 games this season. He has become somewhat of a disappointment for Carolina in the third season of a six-year, $24 million contract.
This move comes one day after the Wild acquired right wing Pontus Aberg from the Ducks for AHL Center Justin Kloos. The Wild are stuck with 49 points after Thursday's loss, which has them just one point out of the third and final division spot in the Central. The Hurricanes are also sitting with 49 points, but they are six points out of the final playoff spot in the entire Eastern Conference.
The 26-year-old Niederretier has nine goals and 14 assists over 46 games this season for the Wild, and he is just in the second season of a five-year, $26.25 million contract that he signed with his now former team. Minnesota brought in the 25-year-old Rask, who has one goal and five assists in 26 games this season. He has become somewhat of a disappointment for Carolina in the third season of a six-year, $24 million contract.
This move comes one day after the Wild acquired right wing Pontus Aberg from the Ducks for AHL Center Justin Kloos. The Wild are stuck with 49 points after Thursday's loss, which has them just one point out of the third and final division spot in the Central. The Hurricanes are also sitting with 49 points, but they are six points out of the final playoff spot in the entire Eastern Conference.
