Michael McCarron brings more size to the Wild lineup
As the Minnesota Wild approached this trade deadline, one of their clearest areas that could use an upgrade was at center, especially after shipping out Marco Rossi to acquire defenseman Quinn Hughes earlier in the season. On Tuesday, Minnesota parted with some significant draft capital to address their need up the middle, sending a 2028 second-round pick to the Nashville Predators for Michael McCarron.
If Wild fans were hoping for an offensively inclined pivot they could slot into their top six, McCarron is distinctly not that. In 59 games for Nashville this season, the Grosse Point, Michigan native has just five goals and seven assists for 12 points. McCarron will, hower, bring plenty of size to Minnesota, as he stands at 6’6″ and weighs about 230 pounds. He’s won 52.8% of his faceoffs this season, so he’ll likely be used in a lot of defensize zone draws where he can either win the faceoff or use his reach and size to check the opponent.
On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed whether McCarron is worth the price of a second-round pick for the Wild.
Tyler Yaremchuk: I think teams kind of see Michael McCarron and convince themselves that he’s going to be something he’s not. He’s a big body, he’s a right shot, he can win faceoffs, but the Minnesota Wild parted ways with a second-round pick for a guy who’s got five goals this year. Again, defensively, all these things, he brings intangibles, I’m just stunned he cost a second-round pick to acquire. If I’m a Minnesota Wid fan, I don’t mind this add but I get worried if this is going to be the only centerman they’re adding.
Carter Hutton: I think adding some toughness down their lineup as they look like they’re going to compete against Dallas and compete against Colorado if you’re going to try to run through that Central Division to get there. At the end of the day, I feel like the second-round pick becomes irrelevant because of the Quinn Hughes trade, because of the pressure that Minnesota is under now to succeed, in the sense of by 2028, if we’re not winning in this window and getting through, what does it matter? There’s been a big-time lack of success in the playoffs, and I think Bill Guerin and everybody in Minnesota understands that situation. I don’t know if Michael McCarron is going to be the piece, but maybe he is a little bit of grit that helps and that second rounder becomes irrelevant if you can get to a conference final, if you can find a way to a Cup final.
You can catch the full discussion and the rest of Wednesday’s episode here…