The Wild operate with a higher degree of difficulty than 31 teams in the NHL, and trading their first-round pick for David Jiricek gives them less draft capital to offer other teams. That's all understandable. Nyquist was available, he could fit into the Wild's cap picture, and there was familiarity. It's not hard to see why the trade got made.

The Wild are bringing back a familiar face for their playoff push. For the second time in three years, they have traded for Gustav Nyquist, reacquiring the veteran forward Saturday from the Predators for a 2026 second-round draft pick.

Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired forward Gustav Nyquist (pronounced GOO-stahv NIGH-kwihst) from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.