Wild's Center Target Slips Away, Signs with Ottawa

Minnesota had its sights set on adding a legitimate top-six center to bolster its playoff chances, but the free agent market just delivered a gut punch. Instead of landing their guy, the Wild are watching him head to Ottawa, where the Senators clearly made a more compelling pitch. This is the kind of move that can reshape division dynamics in the Atlantic, and it leaves Minnesota scrambling to find alternatives before the market gets picked clean.