Wild to reintegrate U.S. Olympians into lineup and approach trade deadline

The Minnesota Wild say gold-medalists Matt Boldy, Brock Faber and Quinn Hughes will rejoin the lineup after returning from the Olympics, with the coaching staff managing their recovery while keeping them active. General manager Bill Guerin is also eyeing additions ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, preferably a center.

The Wild will return several U.S. gold-medal winners directly into game action following the Olympics and related events in Washington, D.C. Matt Boldy, Brock Faber and Quinn Hughes flew back to Minnesota on owner Craig Leipold's plane and joined the team charter to Denver. Coach John Hynes said the plan is for each of the three to play in upcoming games while managing recovery, and the club has held a mini-training camp in St. Paul to prepare the rest of the roster. Key details: - Boldy, Faber and Hughes are expected in the lineup against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and to play again against the Utah Mammoth on Friday. - The three players visited the White House and attended the State of the Union before returning to Minnesota and joining the team travel plans. - Coach John Hynes, who was part of the U.S. coaching staff, said recovery time is limited and the players must manage rest away from team activities, with some optional skates or days off planned but not game absences. - Boldy scored the U.S. regulation goal in the Olympic gold-medal game, Faber played top-four and penalty-kill minutes, and Hughes was named the tournament's top defenseman. - Most of the Wild practiced at TRIA Rink during a mini-camp; Jonas Brodin skated in non-contact mode after lower-body surgery and Joel Eriksson Ek reported feeling strong after a short break. - The NHL trade deadline is March 6, and president of hockey operations/general manager Bill Guerin has said he wants to add, ideally a center; Vincent Trocheck has been mentioned in trade talk. Summary: The Wild are aiming to reintegrate key U.S. Olympians quickly while managing their minutes to balance recovery and team needs, and the rest of the roster has been held in a mini-training camp in St. Paul. The team also remains attentive to the March 6 trade deadline, with general manager Bill Guerin expressing interest in adding a center; specific moves are undetermined at this time.