ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota general manager Chuck Fletcher had watched as the Wild had lost six straight games, allowing 29 goals during the stretch which dropped them to 12th in the Western Conference and eight points out of a playoff spot.
There was no waiting around to see if Minnesota could pull itself out of its tailspin. Fletcher couldn't wait until the NHL's trade deadline to jumpstart the Wild.
Fletcher found a deal which made sense. The Arizona Coyotes were looking for a draft pick and had goaltender Devan Dubnyk playing limited games behind Mike Smith. On Jan. 14, Fletcher sent a third-rounder to Arizona for Dubnyk, who had a shutout in his first game with Minnesota.
A 7-0 victory at Buffalo the day Dubnyk met the team sparked the Wild, who have gone 10-2-2 with Dubnyk starting every game since his arrival.
"I don't think you ever imagine a team or a player going through a stretch like we're going through," Fletcher said Friday about the impact Dubnyk has provided. "Our record is pretty exceptional the last 10, 11 games. That's hard to do . . . We knew we were acquiring a quality goaltender. We felt with the way we play -- if we could play the right way in front of him -- then yeah, he would have a chance to be successful and we would have a chance to be successful. But you never know for sure."
With the trade deadline approaching March 2, Fletcher is again weighing his options. Minnesota has climbed to 10th in the West and is just three points out of a playoff spot after Monday's loss at Vancouver.
Dubnyk's arrival has changed the Wild's fortunes and presented Fletcher with a new set of choices.
Does Fletcher address needs from the outside, or hope young players can step forward and fill roles? Minnesota is still out of the playoffs and, as Fletcher noted, is "going to have to scratch and claw and battle our way" the rest of the season.
"We know that when we're playing the way we should play, we're a good hockey team," Fletcher said. "We're not perfect. We have weaknesses and holes like every other team. But we believe we are a good hockey team when we're playing the right way, and we're playing our system and we're individually on top of the way we need to play . . . I think we saw at the end of last season and the beginning of this season that we are a competitive team and that we can win hockey games in this league. We still have areas that we need to improve."
Yet, prices are high in free agency. Fletcher said he speaks with fellow general managers every day and there are more buyers than sellers, adding to increased demand.
In the West, eight points separate the teams from sixth place to 12th. There is more separation in the East, but two teams are within six points of the eighth. In the past week in the West, Winnipeg acquired forward Drew Stafford and defenseman Tyler Myers, giving up former No. 4 overall draft pick Evander Kane in the process. Nashville picked up defenseman Cody Franson and forward Mike Santorelli.
Fletcher said he's aware of who is available. Unfortunately, he also knows the severe prices to acquire the available talent.
Minnesota is also wary of giving up too many young assets. Fletcher has traded second-round picks each of the past two years. He doesn't want to part with a first-round draft pick, either.
Meanwhile, the prospect pool which the Wild was lauded for a few years ago is mostly in the NHL now with the likes of Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella and Matt Dumba.
"This year we still have our first- and second-round picks, and that would certainly be my goal to have that first- and second-round pick come June when we're down in Florida (for the draft)," Fletcher said. "That's not to say you won't trade other picks. We certainly would consider trading other assets but it's difficult to always trade your second-round picks, let's put it that way. Our goal would be to keep our second round pick for this year and we'll see. Maybe something is too good to pass up. It would be nice to have some picks this year and restock our cupboards a little bit."
The Wild lost forward Jason Zucker, who was second on the team in goals when he was injured, for the rest of the regular season, at least. Forwards Matt Cooke and Ryan Carter are on injured reserve, as well, and expected to miss at least a month.
Fletcher said he will look to see if young players can fill roles instead of trying to find answers via trades. Jordan Schroeder has arrived from the American Hockey League to post two goals and two assists in the past five games. Stephane Veilleux and Brett Sutter have shuffled between Iowa of the AHL and Minnesota and its possible the Wild could go to the AHL to add Tyler Graovac or Michael Keranen.
"Certainly we'll take a look at what we have first and continue to talk to teams around the league," Fletcher said. "Whether it's at forward or some other position, if something makes sense we're always going to do that. We think we have some depth and we think we have some quality players that can step up and play more for us. That's certainly what we will look to first."
The urgency which led Fletcher to Dubnyk has changed, somewhat, with the goaltender's arrival.
"Our defensive game wasn't as strong and, to be frank, our goaltending wasn't up to par," Fletcher said of the team's slip in December and early January. "We lost our way and we gave up too many goals. We had players that individually lost their confidence. And collectively, I think we lost our faith in the system and our faith in each other, to be honest with you. The last few weeks, things have turned around.
"Acquiring Devan Dubnyk was certainly a good spark for the team. He's played well. Some nights he's had to be better than others depending on how we've played in front of him, but he's certainly brought some stability to that position and as a result our defensive game is much stronger. I think our players are trusting the system and have more faith in each other, and are playing the way they're supposed to play."
Fletcher has to decide before March 2 whether another lift is needed from the outside.
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