Rumor: Wild to trade for former player who left in blockbuster trade?

UPDATE: After linking the Minnesota Wild to New York Islanders forward Bock Nelson in trade rumors, NHL insider Chris Johnston is now linking the Wild to San Jose Sharks forward and former Wild 9th overall draft pick Mikael Granlund.

From Johnston on The Athletic:

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Granlund was a first-round pick by the Wild who spent seven seasons playing for the organization. Still, wouldn’t it be a nice homecoming story? Minnesota could really use a forward who can toggle between center and wing while chipping in with some offense. Granlund ticks all of those boxes and should come with an added level of comfort given his familiarity with the organization. The cap aspect will need to be worked out since San Jose doesn’t have any retention spots still open and Minnesota has some added challenges while operating in long-term injured reserve, but those aren’t big enough hurdles to keep this from happening.

- Chris Johnston

Granlund, of course, spent the first seven years of his NHL career with the Wild after being drafted by the team 9th overall back in 2010. He was shipped to the Nashville Predators in blockbuster deal for Kevin Fiala, a trade that shocked both team's fanbases.

Read below for our earlier report on the Wild's pursuit of Nelson.

I hate to break it to ya, New York Islanders fans... but the Isles aren't making the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.

They're currently five points out of the final Wild Card position and 10 points back of a secured position in the NHL's Atlantic Division. In other words, they're cooked.

With the NHL's trade deadline just over over two months away there's now plenty of speculation about who Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello will trade ahead of deadline day. The Islanders' only two significant players on expiring contracts are Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson and NHL insiders Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun think that both veteran forwards will be in play on the trade market.

In particular, Johnston reports that he believes Nelson, a Minnesota native, could end up as a member of the Minnesota Wild before deadline day is over.

"It’s likely that the Wild plan to target Nelson," said The Athletic's Michael Russo earlier this month. "(He) is somebody who can play up and down the lineup, at wing or center, kill penalties, win draws and play on the power play."

As for the cost, Russo reports that Wild GM Bill Guerrin will likely have to part with a 1st round pick to acquire Nelson.

"(The Wild will) have to trade a future first-rounder or get creative with a top prospect and second-round pick," Russo wrote. 

The 33 year old Nelson has 10 goals and 21 points in 37 games for the Islanders this year. He managed 34 goals and 69 points last season.