The Minnesota Wild has announced the acquisition of forward Blake Coleman and defenceman Olli Määttä from Calgary. In exchange, the Wild sent 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 to Calgary. This transaction follows a period where the Wild had not secured any free agency signings.
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, playing for New Jersey, Tampa Bay, and Calgary. His shorthanded goal total places him tied for third among active NHL skaters. He has also registered 31 points in 65 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, winning two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021.
Prior to his professional career, Coleman spent three years at Miami University, where he recorded 70 points. He helped Miami University win an NCHC Championship in 2014-15, contributing 37 points in 37 games and earning the NCHC Tournament MVP award. Coleman also represented Team USA at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded two points in 10 games and earned a bronze medal. He was originally selected by New Jersey in the third round (No. 75 overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.
Coleman’s contract extends through 2027 with a $4.9 million cap hit, though Calgary is retaining 50 percent ($2.45 million) of his salary. He spent the last five seasons of his career with the Flames, joining the franchise as a free agent before the 2021-22 season after signing a six-year, $29.4 million contract. The 2021-22 campaign was the only season in which Coleman made the playoffs while with the team. He scored 99 goals and 199 career points in 392 games with the Flames, which is the most games he has played for one franchise. Most of these games were alongside defensive centre and Flames captain Mikael Backlund, where they contributed offensively and defensively in a middle-six role. The Texas native has also played for the Lightning, with whom he won the Cup twice, and the New Jersey Devils.
For the Wild, Coleman is expected to contribute offence in a middle-six role. He brings experience from a Cup-winning shutdown line, having played with Barclay Goodrow and Yanni Gourde during the Lightning’s Cup runs. He is also recognized as a strong penalty killer. His experience and veteran leadership, including his two Stanley Cup wins, will be missed in Calgary, where he was a prime trade deadline candidate as the Flames restructured their roster.
Määttä’s Career and Impact
Määttä, who is 31, played in 43 games last season with the Utah Mammoth and Calgary, recording 15 points and four penalty minutes. After being acquired by Calgary via trade with Utah on March 4, Määttä led Flames skaters with 12 assists and ranked tied for second with 14 points in 21 games. The 6-foot-2, 209-pound native of Jyväskylä, Finland, 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 as a member of 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 contributed to Finland’s bronze medal finish at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, recording five points in six games. He has played at four IIHF World Championships (2026, 2024, 2023, 2021), winning gold in 2026 and silver in 2021. He also participated in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Prior to his professional career, Määttä won consecutive Ontario Hockey League (OHL) 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 (No. 22 overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. Määttä is on a three-year, $3.5 million contract that runs through the 2027-28 season. He was not expected to remain with the Flames for an extended period after his acquisition at the trade deadline, making his inclusion in this trade a bonus for Calgary, as it helps them acquire draft picks and a player in return.
Middleton’s Departure and Future Outlook
Middleton, who is 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. He is entering the second year of a four-year deal worth $4.35 million per year. Middleton established himself as an everyday player after joining the Wild from the San Jose Sharks in 2022.
Middleton’s no-move clause transitioned into a modified no-trade clause on Wednesday. Reports indicate he was on the ice for 13 goals against in the team’s series against the Colorado Avalanche during the postseason. He reflected on the experience, stating, “It was a s—y feeling. You look back, it’s not — how do I say it? If I was making mistakes and I wasn’t playing my balls off, I would feel a lot worse sitting up here talking to you guys. But I do think it was just a situation where they just went in, you know?”
The Flames are looking to the future, and the draft picks acquired in this trade align with that strategy. Middleton is seen as a potential fit for Calgary as a stay-at-home defenceman who could help manage mistakes made by younger, attacking puck-moving defenders. The Flames hope he can contribute to building a winning culture. From a financial standpoint, Calgary benefits by retaining only half of Coleman’s cap hit, and this retention spot will become available again in the summer of 2027. Following this deal, the Wild currently hold no second-round picks in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
Flex, 11-game, half, and full season memberships are available for purchase, and group reservations of eight or more tickets can place a deposit now. Deposits are also accepted for single-game suite rentals. Pricing and on-sale dates for Minnesota Wild 2026-27 preseason and regular-season single-game tickets will be announced later this summer.
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Source: nhl.com
