Wild’s hitman Yakov Trenin looking for first goal of season

Matt Blewett / Imagn Images By John Shipley / St. Paul Pioneer Press Today at 6:47 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? The Minnesota Wild acquired Yakov Trenin during the lean years when, hamstrung by the worst years of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts, general manager Bill Guerin didn’t have the wherewithal to go after free agents. Trenin was the only guy Guerin signed when free agency opened on July 1, 2024, wrapping up the big bottom six winger with a four-year, $14 million contract. ADVERTISEMENT It was only one move, but it proved to be a good one. With Minnesota, Trenin has developed into one of the NHL’s most physical players amassing 654 hits in his first two seasons combined, and leading the league with 413 in 82 regular-season games in 2025-26. Trenin, 29, currently ranks third (84) on a Wild team that started Monday on top of the Western Conference with 12 wins and 27 points. But Trenin is more than a checker, his past season-plus spent skating with quick players who can get to the net. He has been getting scoring opportunities himself. He just hasn’t broken the seal despite some strong chances in games last weekend against San Jose and Tampa Bay. He has 19 shots on goal in 19 games heading into Tuesday’s 6 p.m. puck drop at Montreal. Asked after a practice Monday at TRIA Rink, Trenin was asked how many goals he scored last season. “I don’t remember,” he said. It was six, with 17 assists playing mostly on the third line with Vladimir Tarasenko (23 goals) and Danila Yurov (12). He was a plus-13 last season, and in 421 NHL games he is a net plus-29. Head coach John Hynes has noticed Trenin’s recent scoring chances but isn’t particularly concerned. With a 6-foot-2, 200-pound player who has led the league in hits, goals are accepted but necessarily encouraged. ADVERTISEMENT “He has had some looks there, and it would be nice for him to get the opportunity to get one in the net,” Hynes said Monday. “But I also think the challenge in those situations is you have to continue to play well and not be searching for it — like you want it too much. “You’ve got to play the game in the right way and play to his identity and his style, and then eventually it will go in.” Trenin not only gets it, he plays accordingly. Asked what his role is, Trenin said it depends on his linemates. Right now, that’s as the center between Yurov, six goals, and Max Shabanov, who has eight goals but five on the power play. “I feel you need to be more on the forecheck, get the puck, and then I give it to Danila (when he) goes to the net,” Trenin said. “You need to play with possession in a way you can create room for them in the offensive zone, and then you can go to the goal and get tips and rebounds.” And if you don’t score, you “go again, get the cycle game going.” Still, Trenin acknowledged, he’s eager to finally break that seal. It might appear that he’s unaccustomed to scoring, but Trenin potted a career-high 17 goals with Nashville in 2021-22. ADVERTISEMENT “When you get going,” he said, “it gets hard to go so many games without a goal. But it will come.” Injury report Defensemen Jonas Brodin and Quinn Hughes didn’t participate in practice on Monday, but both are expected to play Tuesday against the Canadiens. Brodin was taking a maintenance day, Hynes said, and Hughes was gone after attending the Hockey Hall of Fame induction of Keith Tkachuk in Toronto on Sunday and was scheduled to meet the team in Quebec. Hughes became close with Tkachuk and his son, Brady, while billeting at their townhouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan, when the two youngest were in the U.S. national developmental program. Center Michael McCarron was a full participant Monday after missing Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury. Hynes said he hadn’t yet talked to trainers about McCarron on Monday morning but added, “Obviously went through practice. I don’t know for sure if he’ll be in the lineup tomorrow, but it looks promising.” Top four defensemen Jared Spurgeon and Brock Faber practiced Monday, as well, and will travel with the team on its trip through Montreal, Toronto and Boston. When they might play remains up in the air, although Hynes said Spurgeon is closer. ADVERTISEMENT “The reason why they’re coming on the trip is they’re back in regular practice now, ramping up their conditioning, getting back into things, and then it’s really kind of a day-to-day thing,” the coach said. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson, who hasn’t played since last season because of a hip injury that required surgery, also will be on the trip. Briefly The Wild put forward Tyler Pitlick and defenseman Cameron Crotty on waivers on Monday. Text Example ____________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here. Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. 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