Wild Acquire Moulson, McCormick

Matt Moulson will don his third different jersey this year. Photo: USATSI

Just prior to the 2 PM CDT trade deadline, Chuck Fletcher made another trade deadline move with Buffalo. This year, he acquired Matt Moulson and Cody McCormick from the Sabres in exchange for Torrey Mitchell and the Wild's second round pick in 2014 (acquired from Winnipeg last summer for Devin Setoguchi) and in 2016.

Moulson you may remember, was acquired earlier on in the year along with a first and second round pick for Thomas Vanek, who was in turned moved today to Montreal..

The move of adding Moulson instantly bolsters the Wild lineup, which ranks 25th in the league in scoring this season (although one could argue that they have been scoring more efficiently lately). The move gives them three, nearly four, scoring lines which worked very well for last year's Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.

Also in the deal was Cody McCormick, a 10 year veteran who is more of a gritty fourth line type of guy who gives the Wild a little more toughness, should they look to put a enforcer type of guy in the lineup.

Moulson and McCormick are both unrestricted free agents at season's end, so getting them for a reasonable return is a huge positive for Chuck Fletcher and his staff. Moulson should be in the lineup on Saturday for the team's next game in Dallas (the Wild are luckily in the midst of a four day break in between games).

The move all but signals that Torrey Mitchell did indeed ask for a trade out of Minnesota, something both the Wild and Mitchell denied yesterday. It also gets rid of Mitchell's $1.9M cap hit next year, which can now be used in free agency this summer.

There will be more will to come on the team's newest players.


Follow Giles on Twitter @gilesferrell