Minnesota Wild winger Mikael Granlund likely wasn't paying much attention to Monday's trade deadline because his fiancée was in labor, but he probably knows now that he'll be buying a Nashville Predators onesie for the new baby.
The 26-year-old was traded to the Preds for winger Kevin Fiala, and Minnesota general manager Paul Fenton told reporters that he felt bad for disrupting the couple's life.
But Fenton knew what he wanted in Fiala. Fenton is in his first year at Minnesota after serving 12 years as an assistant GM in Nashville.
"This was a hockey trade," Fenton said, according to the Star-Tribune. "Both teams got better."
Granlund, 26, has a $5.75 million cap hit and is under contract through the 2019-20 season. He has 15 goals and 49 points in 63 games this season.
The second-place Predators needed some kind of answer to Central Division leader Winnipeg's acquisition of Kevin Hayes. Granlund had 67 points last season and 69 the season before.
Fiala, 22, is on the final year of his entry-level contract and is a restricted free agent this summer. He has 10 goals and 32 points in 64 games this season. He had a career-high 48 points last season.
Minnesota is clinging to the second wild card in the West.
