Getting moved to a different team didn’t surprise Gustav Nyquist. “I knew something was coming,” he said. But the timing, almost a week ahead of the NHL trade deadline, was earlier than he expected.

The Wild operate with a higher degree of difficulty than 31 teams in the NHL, and trading their first-round pick for David Jiricek gives them less draft capital to offer other teams. That's all understandable. Nyquist was available, he could fit into the Wild's cap picture, and there was familiarity. It's not hard to see why the trade got made.

Gustav Nyquist is a bargain addition in the trade between the Wild and Predators. But who is the winner and loser of the deal?

Over the weekend, the Minnesota Wild broke the ice on their trade deadline. They traded for Gustav Nyquist, who they previously acquired at the 2022-23 trade deadline. Bringing Nyquist back is a bit puzzling,

The Wild are bringing back a familiar face for their playoff push. For the second time in three years, they have traded for Gustav Nyquist, reacquiring the veteran forward Saturday from the Predators for a 2026 second-round draft pick.

The Minnesota Wild acquired forward Gustav Nyquist from the Nashville Predators on Saturday in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2026. The Predators also will retain 50 percent of Nyquist's contract.

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL trade deadline. Minnesota Wild get: F Gustav Nyquist Nashville Predators get: 2026 second-round draft pick Predators retain 50 percent of Nyquist’s salary.

The NHL’s trade market was heating up Saturday, and the Minnesota Wild struck by acquiring veteran winger Gustav Nyquist from Nashville in exchange for a second-round draft pick. This follows an earlier trade Saturday that saw the Colorado Avalanche land defenseman Ryan Lindgren from the New York Rangers.

Nashville Predators center Gustav Nyquist skates with the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena on January 29.