During a nearly two-hour sitdown with Paul Fenton on Monday inside his office at Wild headquarters, the sound of a buzzing cell phone provided some apropos background music.



This is what it’s like to be an NHL general manager this time of year.



The Wild GM finally pulled the phone out of his right pants pocket to take a look, and he grinned.



“Speaking of other GMs … it seems many are in the same feeling-out process I am,” Fenton said. “Lots of calls today.”



If Fenton missed out on any blockbusters in one of those missed calls, well, sorry Wild fans.



My fault.



The reality though is other than The Athletic-reported (as of now-)nixed Phil Kessel-for-Jason Zucker deal from a few weeks back, most of the calls Fenton is making and receiving right now are simply GMs kicking tires, finding out what each other’s needs are and seeing if there may be pieces that fit as the NHL draft arrives next...