Wild add John Klingberg and Oskar Sundqvist, send Jordan Greenway to Sabres

CALGARY — The Wild wanted to bolster their present without compromising the future, and that's exactly how they readied their roster for the postseason.

"We're serious," General Manager Bill Guerin said. "We're serious about winning."

Before the NHL trade deadline on Friday, the Wild sent Jordan Greenway to Buffalo, picked up his replacement in Oskar Sundqvist from Detroit and also acquired defenseman John Klingberg out of Anaheim.

Factor in the additions of Marcus Johansson and Gustav Nyquist earlier in the week, and the Wild brought in four players without dealing any of their first- or second-round picks.

Not only that, they mostly preserved the lineup that's surged into contention for the top spot in the Central Division and entire Western Conference with 20 games left in its playoff chase.

Greenway is the only regular gone, with the Wild receiving a second-round pick in this year's draft that originally belonged to Vegas and a 2024 fifth-rounder to give him a fresh start with the Sabres.

A prized prospect after being a second-round pick in 2015, Greenway shined at times in parts of six seasons with the Wild, like when he was a 6-6, 231-pound force along the boards or shutting down the other team's best players on the "GREEF" line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno.

But Greenway stalled after offseason surgery and a subsequent injury to the same shoulder, recording just two goals and five assists in 45 games.

"You're just playing catch-up the whole time," Guerin said. "It really sets you back, but I think overall a change will be good."

The winger leaves the organization with 38 goals and 81 assists in 317 games.

He was previously coached by Buffalo bench boss Don Granato with the U.S. National Team Development Program, and Greenway is from Canton, N.Y.

Although the Wild were discussing Greenway with a number of teams, they wouldn't have traded him if they didn't net the return they were seeking.

"We got pretty close to what we wanted," said Guerin, who also created $3 million in cap space for the next two seasons by trading Greenway, flexibility Guerin called "necessary."

This vacancy will be filled by Sundqvist, whom the Wild secured for a 2023 fourth-rounder in a deal that came together on Friday to compensate for Greenway's exit.

In 52 games with the Red Wings, Sundqvist accrued seven goals and 14 assists, with Guerin describing the 28-year-old as smart, big and versatile (Sundqvist can play center or wing). He also has playoff experience after winning the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019.

Klingberg also addressed a need, with Guerin targeting an offensive instinct for the back end.

"We like to defend first," Guerin said. "But when there's a play to be made, he's the type of guy that really can make a high-level offensive play."

Klingberg cost the Wild minor-leaguer Andrej Sustr, the rights to prospect Nikita Nesterenko and a 2025 fourth-round pick; the Ducks retained 50% of Klingberg's salary. Guerin had been in talks with Anaheim for about a week, but the asking price prolonged the negotiation until just before the deadline expired.

Like Johansson and Nyquist, who's on injured reserve with a shoulder injury that isn't expected to sideline him the rest of the season, Sundqvist and Klingberg are on expiring contracts.

Sundqvist is wrapping up a four-year, $11 million deal, while Klingberg, 30, went to Anaheim for one year at $7 million after eight seasons with Dallas. The right-shot defender was a minus-28 with the rebuilding Ducks but is a four-time 10-goal scorer and has eight through 50 games this season along with 16 assists. He can quarterback a power play, and Guerin believes Klingberg can help a Wild offense that's been buoyed by Kirill Kaprizov of late.

Kaprizov is one goal away from 40 after scoring eight of the Wild's last 15 tallies over seven games, a blitz that has lifted Kaprizov into sixth place in Wild history with 113 career goals.

"We just need other guys to chip in," Guerin said.

Both Sundqvist and Klingberg are expected to make their Wild debuts on Saturday at Calgary, and Guerin was planning to discuss where they fit into the lineup with coach Dean Evason.

Guerin said the Wild didn't come close to trading Matt Dumba and although they fielded interest on Alex Goligoski, nothing materialized.

This keeps the blue line that's one of best in the NHL intact.

Since Dec. 10, the Wild have averaged the second-fewest goals per game at 2.28. They've surrendered less than two goals 22 times, which is also second-best in the league, and they're 20-1-1 when that happens.

"The coaches I give a lot of credit to and the players I give a lot of credit to because they're buying in," Guerin said.

Even with timid production, the Wild look better equipped for the playoffs with this stingy posture.

And now more reinforcements are on the way.

"We're playing more of a winning style this year," Guerin said. "You have to put the team over your individual wants, and that's what guys are doing. That's a good sign."