The Minnesota Wild have acquired forward Blake Coleman and defenceman Olli Määttä from Calgary in exchange for defenceman Jake Middleton, a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, a fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft. The trade was announced by Bill Guerin, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager for the Wild.
Coleman, who is 34, recorded 35 points, 12 penalty minutes, four shorthanded goals, and three game-winning goals in 69 games with Calgary last season. He ranked tied for first on Calgary in shorthanded goals and game-winning goals, tied for second in goals, third in assists, and sixth in points. Over his 10-season NHL career, Coleman has accumulated 325 points and 516 penalty minutes in 693 games with New Jersey, Tampa Bay, and Calgary. His shorthanded goal total ranks tied for third among active NHL skaters. He has also recorded 31 points in 65 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, winning two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021.
Before his professional career, Coleman played three years at Miami University, where he registered 70 points. He helped lead Miami University to an NCHC Championship in 2014-15, collecting 37 points in 37 games and was named NCHC Tournament MVP. Coleman also represented Team USA at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded two points in 10 games, earning a bronze medal. He was originally selected by New Jersey in the third round of the 2011 NHL Draft.
According to league sources, Calgary will retain 50 percent of Coleman’s salary. Coleman’s contract extends through 2027 with a cap hit of $4.9 million. He joined Calgary as a free agent ahead of the 2021-22 season after signing a six-year, $29.4 million contract. The 2021-22 campaign was the only season Coleman made the playoffs while with the team. He scored 99 goals and 199 career points in 392 games with Calgary, the most games he has played for one franchise. He often played alongside Mikael Backlund, contributing offensively and defensively in a middle-six role. Coleman has also played for the Lightning and the New Jersey Devils. For the Wild, he is expected to contribute offense in a middle-six role and is known for his strong penalty-killing abilities and experience on a Cup-winning shutdown line with Barclay Goodrow and Yanni Gourde during the Lightning’s Cup runs.
Määttä’s Extensive Career and Middleton’s Departure
Määttä, 31, played in 43 games with the Utah Mammoth and Calgary last season, recording 15 points, four penalty minutes, and 62 blocked shots. After being acquired by Calgary via trade with Utah on March 4, Määttä had 14 points in 21 games. The defenceman has played in 804 career games and tallied 210 points, 1,232 blocked shots, and a plus-76 rating across 13 NHL seasons with Pittsburgh, Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Utah, and Calgary. A two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017, Määttä owns 27 points in 85 career Stanley Cup Playoff games in seven postseason appearances.
Määttä has an extensive international career representing Finland, including at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, where he earned a bronze medal after tallying one assist in six games, and the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, where he recorded two assists in three games. He also helped Finland to a bronze medal finish at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, recording five points in six games, and played at four IIHF World Championships (2026, 2024, 2023, 2021), winning gold in 2026 and silver in 2021. He also played in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Prior to his professional career, Määttä won consecutive Ontario Hockey League Championships while playing two seasons with the London Knights and was named to the 2012 OHL First All-Rookie Team. He was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft. Määttä is on a three-year, $3.5 million contract that runs through the 2027-28 season.
Middleton, 30, recorded 16 points, 76 penalty minutes, and 117 blocked shots in 75 games with the Wild last season. For his career, he owns 94 points, a plus-18 rating, and 722 shots on goal in 381 games across parts of eight seasons with San Jose and Minnesota. Middleton is entering the second year of a four-year deal worth $4.35 million per year. He established himself as an everyday player after joining the Wild from the San Jose Sharks in 2022. Middleton’s no-move clause became a modified no-trade clause on Wednesday.
Implications for the Teams
For Calgary, the acquisition of draft picks and a player like Middleton is seen as a positive. Middleton is described as a mobile, stay-at-home defenceman who could help clean up mistakes made by younger, attacking defencemen. His experience is expected to contribute to building a winning culture within the Flames organization. From a financial standpoint, Calgary benefits by retaining only half of Coleman’s $4.9 million cap hit, and this retention spot will be available again in the summer of 2027.
Following this trade, the Minnesota Wild currently hold no second-round picks in 2027, 2028, and 2029. The team is offering flex, 11-game, half, and full season memberships for purchase. Information regarding pricing and on-sale dates for Minnesota Wild 2026-27 preseason and regular-season single-game tickets will be announced later this summer.
Read Also
Source: nhl.com
