Huge last minute player for player trade between the Wild and the Predators.

The Nashville Predators and the Minnesota Wild have pulled off a big deal with just minutes left to go at the deadline. 

According to a breaking news report from TSN National Hockey League insider Bob McKenzie the Nashville Predators and the Minnesota Wild have made a rare player for player trade at the deadline. Going to the Minnesota Wild will be veteran winger Kevin Fiala and coming back the other way to the Nashville Predators will be another veteran winger in the form of Mikael Granlund.

This seems like a simple trade of two players who had fallen out of favor with their respective clubs and two players who are a natural fit on the opposite side of the ice. This allows both the Predators and the Wild to weaken one side of their line up in order to bolster their strength on the other side of the ice, although initial reactions on social media would appear to indicate that most fans favor the Nashville Predators in this particular trade.

Grandlund has had a bit of an up and down season with the Wild this time around, appearing in 63 games this season but recording just 15 goals and 34 assists for a total of 49 points in the year. Not a bad total to be sure but a sign of regression for the 26 year old former top 10 pick at the draft who was also a plus minus of -2 on the season.

Fiala, also a former first round draft selection although he was selected outside the top 10 going 11th overall, has been in somewhat of a similar situation as Granlun this season. Appearing in 64 games for the Nashville Predatirs this season Fiala has struggled to find his goal scoring touch with 10 goals and 22 assists for a total of just 32 points. He also boasts an ugly plus minus of -11 and should he finish near there it would mark the only time he has been a negative player in his career outside of a season in which he played just a single game. 

There is concern that Fiala's serious leg injury of the past could be a factor in his slump, but I suppose the Wild and former Predators asisstant general manager turn Wild general manger Paul Fenton will get a chance to find out.

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