Brandon Duhaime traded by the Wild: Why they moved him, and what he adds to the Avalanche

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Minnesota Wild traded forward Brandon Duhaime to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick. Duhaime could debut for the Avs on Friday night against the Wild in Denver. Here’s what you need to know.

Duhaime had four goals and eight points in 61 games for Minnesota this season and 19 goals and 35 points in 132 career games. He has gone 47 games without a goal, last scoring Nov. 12 in an 8-3 loss to Dallas.
The Wild selected Duhaime in the fourth round (106th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft. He is is a pending unrestricted free agent coming off a one-year, $1.1 million deal.
Two years ago, the Wild dealt Nico Sturm to the Avs, and he went on to win a Stanley Cup.
The Wild recalled Adam Beckman to play for Duhaime on Thursday night at Arizona.
The Wild are in danger of missing the playoffs for only the second time in the past 12 years. They have 64 points in 62 games and are in sixth place in the Central Division.

“Great teammate, very coachable player, heart-and-soul type of guy,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “He plays the game hard. Big blocked shots. Willing to sacrifice his body in confrontations. Plays a speed game. It’s disappointing to lose him because you’re losing not only a good player but you’re losing a great guy and great teammate. I wish him nothing but the best.”

Why trade Duhaime?

Duhaime, 26, is a pending unrestricted free agent, and there hadn’t been any substantive talks with his camp since last summer. While Duhaime has been a regular in the Wild’s bottom six the past three seasons, Marcus Foligno will be returning from injury, Mason Shaw made his season debut Saturday, and Marat Khusnutdinov recently signed to come from the KHL to play in North America, expected to arrive Friday. It makes sense to get an asset for Duhaime rather than lose him this offseason for nothing.

What does Duhaime add?

At 6-foot, 200 pounds, he brings size, speed and snarl to a contender’s third or fourth lines. He’s a regular on the penalty kill and is willing to hold opponents accountable by dropping the gloves (seven fights this season). He won’t bring a ton offensively, though he does believe he has more upside there. He was very well-liked in the Wild room, as shown by teammates playfully ribbing him in The Athletic’s Wild player poll. He didn’t want to leave. “That’s probably the hardest thing,” Duhaime told The Athletic last week. “Thinking about not playing for this group is tough mentally.”

What’s next for Wild?

After their playoff hopes took a devastating hit last week, the Wild are in sell mode. Duhaime is likely not the only player to be dealt before Friday’s trade deadline. Duhaime’s longtime linemate Connor Dewar, a pending restricted free agent, could also be moved, as well as pending unrestricted free agent Pat Maroon.

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