It’s officially three weeks until the Feb. 26 NHL trade deadline, and regardless of whether they make any moves, the Minnesota Wild face a personnel decision that’s currently playing itself out.



While the majority of the 18 skater spots are more or less written in with Sharpie, there are a few that are still being filled on a rotating basis. Perhaps the biggest position battle right now is on the third defensive pairing, where 24-year-old Mike Reilly and 23-year-old Gustav Olofsson are vying for the job.



As Michael Russo already reported for The Athletic, the possibility stands that a defenseman could be dealt, which would obviously simplify the numbers game, but head coach Bruce Boudreau is giving the two young defensemen the opportunity to earn the keys to that car. Reilly, according to Russo’s report, is sounding like a player who expects to be dealt.



While each player is still very green by NHL standards — Reilly has...