Disgraced former Wild GM Fenton is back in the NHL

Um... why?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
Disgraced former Wild GM Fenton is back in the NHL
Zuma Press

According to a report from NHL insider Craig Custance of The Athletic, former Minnesota Wild GM and Nashville Predators assistant GM Paul Fenton is back in the NHL after signing on with the Columbus Blue Jackets as a scout.

Check it out:



Fenton, of course, was unceremoniously dumped by Wild owner Craig Leipold after less than a year on the job for what essentially amounted to incompetence. Fenton made several bizarre transactions in his brief time with the Wild and reportedly created a cultural divide within the organization.

In other words: Heads up, Jackets fans.

In other Wild news, Fenton’s replacement, GM Bill Guerin, made some very pointed comments concerning his team's trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the now departed Jason Zucker.

In case you missed it last night, the Minnesota Wild traded forward Jason Zucker to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk, a 2020 first-round pick and Calen Addison.



The 28 year old Zucker has been in trade rumors for well over a calendar year now. He has 14 goals and 29 points in 45 games for the Wild so far this season. The early reaction is that Wild GM Bill Guerin did VERY well for himself in this trade by not only acquiring a 1st round pick, but also a promising prospect in Calen Addison and a useful player in Alex Galchenyuk, as well.

Guerin made some interesting and pointed remarks regarding Zucker's departure and also made sure to put the rest of his roster on notice.

Check it out:



You hear that? To be honest... that could apply to half of the Wild's roster. 

One thing's for sure, the Wild will be one team to watch ahead of the NHL's February 24th trade deadline.

Again, in case you missed last night's trade, read below for the full press release announcement:

ST. PAUL -- Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired left wing Alex Galchenyuk, defenseman Calen Addison and a conditional first round selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for left wing Jason Zucker.
Galchenyuk, 25, has tallied 17 points (5-12=17) in 45 games with the Penguins this season including six power-play points (2-4=6). The 6-foot-1, 207-pound native of Milwaukee, Wis., recorded 41 points (19-22=41) in 72 contests with Arizona last season. He led the Coyotes in goals, power-play goals (9) and power-play points (21). He owns 313 points (132-181=313) in 535 career NHL games during eight seasons with Montreal (2012-18), Arizona (2018-19) and Pittsburgh (2019-20). Galchenyuk helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2013 World Junior Championship tallying eight points (2-6=8) in seven games. He also recorded two goals in four games at the 2013 World Championship helping the United States win the bronze medal. Galchenyuk tallied 144 points (58-86=144) in 103 games during parts of three seasons with the Sarnia Sting in the Ontario Hockey League (2010-13). Galchenyuk was selected by the Canadiens with the third overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut on Jan. 19, 2013 vs. Toronto.
Addison, 19, has recorded 43 points (10-33=43) in 39 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound native of Brandon, Man., ranks T-6th in scoring and assists and T-10th in goals amongst WHL defensemen. He recorded nine points (1-8=9) in seven games to help Team Canada win the gold medal at the 2020 World Junior Championship. Addison ranked second amongst defensemen and T-6th overall in tournament scoring. He was selected by the Penguins in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
If Pittsburgh does not qualify for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they have the option to move the first round selection to Minnesota from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft to the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Zucker, 28, was selected by Minnesota in the second round (59th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and recorded 243 points (132-111=243) in 456 games with the Wild.