[Rattler]

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Minnesota Wild could put goaltender Josh Harding on the trade block. With the emergence of Anton Khudobin, the Wild could exchange Harding for some help to make a playoff push.

Hendricks Says : I think it may be just a little quick to say Khudobin is a solid NHL backup goalie. Harding has been rumored on the block since last summer as well. If the Wild to try to move Harding, I don't think they will see very much in return as the market is swapped with goaltenders at the moment. Turco, Biron, Halak, Ellis, just to name a few.



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[pantsboyusa]

I didn't think the Wild were going to be able to move him this year because of his subpar performance. I also find it a bit premature to dub Dooby ready for the big time, even if he has been solid while playing.

[Oilers4ever]

I'd love to see Harding with the Oilers.

[pantsboyusa]

Oilers4ever, on Feb 10 2010, 03:40 PM, said:

I'd love to see Harding with the Oilers.

didn't we already trade you one of our used goalies?

[damned]

pantsboyusa, on Feb 10 2010, 02:55 PM, said:

didn't we already trade you one of our used goalies?

You mean the guy that took us to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals? :spiteful:

It was a fun ride! :shiny:

[WildPuck]

I am going to express what will probably be very unpopular opinion...but why not try to move Backstrom? I know he has a ntc but if they can get around that, his value is extremely high and this team is not going to be serious contenders until they get younger and start developing some prospects that they don't have.

[Howler555]

I have had the same thought with trading Backy and going with Hards and Khudoibin. Get young and maximize our value. Sell Nolan and Johnsson, trade Scott and Shepard for bags of used pucks. Rebuild around guys like Koivu, Lats, Clutter, Kobasew, Miettenin, Havlat. We have shown to have a good team now imagine us in 2 seasons of rebuild with guys like Mittens, Koivu, and Lats all long term deals going for a playoff run instead of a eight seed death race. As asinine as this sounds you dont NEED amazing goaltending you need good goaltending with a great team in front ala Chicago, Washington, Pitsburg*Fleury is average on a great team.

[mnhockey86]

Problem is those team have great offenses and we dont have anything close to that and also Backstrom would seem to still be a good goalie in the next 5 years... I think in that time we can make a legit run.

But ur idea is not that far off, goalies develop much better and there seems to be much more above average goalies in the league that can win games, if we did trade Backstrom it better be for a good return. Send them to the Caps so Ovie can win a Stanley Cup

[WildPuck]

Well that is kind of my point...if we could not get top dollar, then obviously keep him. But I think his value is as good as it gets for a goaltender and my thought is to get in now, while we have that huge asset. I don't see us contending, even in your suggested 5 years, unless a big move is made like trading Backstrom. I guess I may be more concerned about his age as well...I think Harding is our future and we would be crazy to deal him. The only way I would let him go would be if this team was primed for a serious run now.

This point has been edited by WildPuck: 12 February 2010 - 07:59 PM