Next to Winnipeg, the Minnesota Wild might make the most sense - at least geographically speaking - when it comes to the apparently imminent Travis Hamonic deal.

And while the blue line isn't necessarily an area of need (the Wild control five blue-liners aged 30 or younger), and GM Chuck Fletcher has virtually no cap space, in today's NHL, teams must at the very least explore any advantage they can get.

As such, the Wild have touched base with the New York Islanders about the possibility of landing the physical blue-liner, who's signed to a manageable deal through 2020, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reports.

It was leaked - and since confirmed - earlier this week that Hamonic had requested a trade from Long Island before the start of the season to be closer to his family in Manitoba, the Canadian province immediately northwest of Minnesota.

LeBrun also notes that the Colorado Avalanche are interested.