A Bruins fan account is pitching Pavel Zacha as the Wild's fallback if nothing comes together on Dylan Larkin.
Bruins Media floated the idea, while admitting he isn't the true top-line center Minnesota is looking for.
The pitch is that Joel Eriksson Ek and Zacha down the middle would be good enough for the Wild to compete.
It's a sensible fallback. Calling it the answer to Minnesota's search for a top center would be a stretch.
Settling for Zacha after chasing Larkin is like test-driving the sports car and driving home in the reliable sedan. You'll get there, just not as fast.
Zacha has 2 points on a $4,750,000 cap hit.
That's $3,950,000 cheaper than Larkin's cap hit, which is the strongest argument in his favor.
Do you think the Minnesota Wild would be interested in Pavel Zacha if nothing turns out with Dylan Larkin?
Obviously not a true 1C their looking for but Eriksson Ek/Zacha is good enough down the middle for them to compete.
What would the return look like?
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Wild may have a cheaper option if Dylan Larkin trade falls apart
Eriksson Ek has 3 points and a +5 rating.
Elliotte Friedman recently said Detroit is watching Minnesota youngsters Danila Yurov and Charlie Stramel in the Larkin conversation.
Boston has center depth to spare, with Elias Lindholm, Fraser Minten and James Hagens all producing.
Minten has 5 points, and Hagens has 4.
Lindholm carries a $7,750,000 cap hit and has 4 points of his own.
David Pastrnak leads Boston with 7 points, so the top of that lineup isn't the issue.
The Bruins have been linked to Larkin themselves, which makes moving a center an interesting idea in Boston too.
Boston is 4-2-0 after back-to-back wins and visits San Jose tonight.
Minnesota is 4-1-1, first in its division, and visits Winnipeg tonight.
Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes have 9 points apiece, so the Wild's stars are carrying their share.
Nico Sturm and both Folignos are also out, so Minnesota's forward depth is already being tested.
Ryan Hartman's -5 rating shows why the Wild might want more help up front.
Would Don Sweeney even move Zacha while his team is winning?
Fans can pitch whatever they want. Until Bill Guerin and Sweeney actually talk, Zacha stays a Bruin and Larkin stays the bigger prize.
Would Pavel Zacha be a good fallback for the Wild if Dylan Larkin falls through?
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