Fletcher makes first Wild in-season move

-From the Minnesotawild.com

Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher tonight announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired RW Chuck Kobasew from the Boston Bruins in exchange for RW Craig Weller, a second round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and the rights to RW Alexander Fallstrom, who was selected by Minnesota in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Watch Chuck Kobasew highlights

Kobasew, 27 (4/17/82), recorded one assist in seven games with the Boston Bruins this season. The 6-foot, 192-pound native of Vancouver, British Columbia notched 42 points (21-21=42) and 56 penalty minutes (PIM) in 68 regular season contests with the Bruins in 2008-09. He set new career-highs in assists and points and reached the 20-goal mark for the third time in his career. Kobasew added six points (3-3=6) and 14 PIM in 11 playoff contests.

He has tallied 155 points (78-77=155) and 272 PIM in 368 career NHL contests during seven seasons with Calgary and Boston. Kobasew collected 49 points (27-22=49) in 43 games with Boston College in 2000-01 and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Frozen Four helping the Eagles claim the 2001 NCAA championship. He was originally selected by the Flames in the first round (14th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

The last Wild regime has been guilty of giving away too many draft picks and although this one also gives a future second round pick away, I still think it's a good move on the Wild's part. Kobasew provides experience and goal scoring ability at the forward position. If you were able to catch The Wild either Friday or Saturday night you know that they are quite thin at forward rigth now due to injury. With Bouchard, Sykora, Clutterbuck and Havlat all injured the Wild could be in serious trouble falling into a deep hole way to early in the season. The team needs to win some games in the coming weeks and if it doesn't eventually the Wild may be in position to deal players for draft picks and gain some of the picks back seeing that this could be an uncompetitive rebuilding year. Look for the Wild to try to bounce back especially with a move like this, however, teams like the Kings and Blackhawks are showing what you can do after a bad year or two and some big hits in the draft.