Wild Trade Adds Depth Defenseman

The Minnesota Wild announced a trade this afternoon with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Wild sent forward Maxim Cajkovic to Pittsburgh and received defenseman Will Butcher in return. Cajkovic originally came to Minnesota as part of the Pat Maroon trade.

This move adds some defensive depth, especially down in Iowa. Due to Minnesota’s injury problem, the best defensemen have been pulled up to the big club. Several prominent defensive prospects in Iowa need a veteran presence to help their development.

Cajkovic played five games with the Iowa Wild and 20 games with the Iowa Heartlanders in the ECHL. He tallied three points (a goal and two assists) with the Iowa Wild and 18 points (12 goals and six assists) with the Heartlanders. He was traded to Minnesota on July 2, 2023, along with Pat Maroon from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Colorado originally drafted Butcher in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL Draft. He has played with the New Jersey Devils and the Buffalo Sabres but most recently played with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 3, 2023. Butcher is coming to the Wild having recorded seven points (three goals and four assists) in 14 games with the WBS Penguins. He will report to Iowa. Butcher is more of an offensive defenseman who is a good passer and can smoothly run a power play. Overall, he has great puck-handling skills.