Trading for Martin Hanzal is an overpayment the Wild can afford to make

So here’s the general reaction I (and, honestly, everyone else) had when we read the price the Wild paid for Arizona Coyotes center Martin Hanzal on Sunday:

That certainly would qualify as all-in. At least the Wild spread around the riches a little bit:

And the conditions?

Okay, so that’s possibly three relatively high picks for a rental player who won’t see much more than third-line minutes with the Wild.

That begs the question(s): what are the Wild doing? And who could possibly afford that?

The answer to the first question is easy. Depth up the middle is important in the playoffs, where battles for loose pucks off faceoffs and defensive duties up the middle of the ice are paramount. Hanzal thrives in those roles. And when asked to do more by the Coyotes, he’s done more.

Minnesota can enter the playoffs knowing it can roll three lines with great centers on each: Mikko Koivu up top, Hanzal on the third line, and Mikael Granlund or Eric Staal sandwiched between them. That’s a multi-dimensional trio (quartet?) as capable of creating scoring chances as they are defending in their own end.

But again, is that worth the price?

Yes. I think.

Minnesota is a rare franchise right now. Maybe three or four teams boast such depth in their prospect pool that they can afford to spend future draft picks on players who can help now. Off the top of my head, I’d count the Coyotes, Lightning, Maple Leafs, and Wild in that group.*

*Side-note: NHL teams have to stop giving the Coyotes all of their draft picks. We already know how good they are at this whole drafting thing. Their GM is still a millennial, guys. Distract him with an iPad or coffee or something. When Arizona wins ten Stanley Cups in a row, this is on all of you.

The Wild have drafted wisely in recent years, capitalizing on top picks (Luke Kunin, Joel Eriksson Ek, Alex Tuch) and finding steals in later rounds (Kirill Kaprizov, Jordan Greenway). Everyone I just mentioned has a good shot at contributing in meaningful ways in the next two years. Kaprizov and Greenway, in particular, seem like serious difference-makers.

It’s no guarantee that those players will turn into anything, but the same could be said for whoever the Coyotes haven’t drafted yet with their shiny new picks. Minnesota doesn’t make this trade unless it really believes its prospects have a bright future.

The Wild drafted well and bought themselves the chance to spend future picks to make a serious run at a Stanley Cup this year. And this is the year to do it.

Minnesota leads the Western Conference in a season where only two other teams in the conference seem like a real threat: the Blackhawks and Sharks. This is a real chance to make noise in the playoffs. If you can afford to improve those odds at the trade deadline, you pull the trigger on that trade.

Minnesota could, and they did.