Written by Michael Russo, Eric Stevens, and Joe Smith
The Minnesota Wild have acquired Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Zach Bogosian in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, team sources said Wednesday. The move came hours after defenseman Calen Addison was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Adam Raska and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Bogosian (33 years old) did not get any point in four matches this season. He recorded four assists and one goal in 46 games last year.
- The 23-year-old Addison has five assists in 12 games this season. He participated in 62 matches last season, providing 26 assists and three goals.
- Raska, a 22-year-old native of the Czech Republic, was a seventh-round pick by the Sharks in 2020. He appeared in eight NHL games between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
What sharks get in edison
While William Eklund scored on a four-on-three margin that became the deciding goal in San Jose’s first win of the season over Philadelphia on Tuesday, the Sharks were operating without a mobile defenseman who could run their power play. And creating offense from the back end. They will now have one in Addison.
Such was their lack of offensive-minded puck drives in the post-Erik Karlsson season that the Sharks deployed five forwards at the top of their power play unit. Addison should bring some good vision in the offensive zone, mobility up the ice and some creativity along the blue line. His game comes with defensive warts on five-on-five play, and he has lost the trust of Wild coach Dean Evason several times. Don’t count on him killing penalties because he didn’t.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier hinted at looking for a puck mover when he met with reporters Monday, but that player needs to fit into his current and long-term vision as the team is deep in the rebuilding process. Addison is only signed for this season. Maybe he will do really well and become part of the Sharks’ future. Maybe he’ll at least be good enough to upset the deadline. His maximum fee would be just $825,000 and the cost of acquiring him was minimal. — Eric Stevens, NHL staff writer
What Bogosian brings to the Wild
The Wild wanted to get bigger and stronger on their backside and help Bogosian on that front. Bogosian has been in and out of Tampa Bay’s lineup this year, having played in four games and cleared waivers once. In the wild, he would have more opportunity, likely in a third-pair role. He’s an experienced penalty taker, plays with class, and – like Pat Maroon – brings a championship pedigree and personality to the locker room.
Bogosian has a 53.2 Corsi percentage in limited minutes this year (11:57 TOI). His brother Aaron is part of the Wild analytics team. He had a modified no-trade clause and is in the final year of his deal at $850,000. — Joe Smith, senior writer at Wilde
what are they saying
“Kalen is a talented young defenseman who sees the ice well and moves the puck well,” Greer said in a statement released by the team. “He is a very good power play player, and we are excited to add him to our group.”
Required reading
(Photo: Bryce Hemmelgarn/USA Today)
