Wild notebook: Michael McCarron joins team and settles in as a 'glue guy'

Michael McCarron was acquired from the Nashville Predators for a 2028 second-round pick and practiced with the Minnesota Wild Thursday; he is slated to make his debut Friday in Las Vegas.

Michael McCarron joined the Minnesota Wild after being acquired Wednesday from the Nashville Predators for a 2028 second-round pick. He practiced with the team on Thursday and received light teasing from teammate Mats Zuccarello about a past on-ice incident. McCarron is expected to make his Wild debut Friday in Las Vegas and skated on a fourth line with Nico Sturm and Vinnie Hinostroza. Teammates and former coaches have described him as a locker-room glue guy known for physical play, faceoffs and penalty-kill work, and his family plans to move to the Twin Cities next week. Key details: - The Wild acquired McCarron from Nashville for a 2028 second-round pick; he practiced Thursday and is expected to debut Friday in Vegas. - Mats Zuccarello greeted McCarron with a joking handshake that referenced their previous on-ice interaction; teammates said McCarron fits in well off the ice. - McCarron is 6-foot-6 and 232 pounds, has five goals this season, and is noted for faceoff skill and penalty-kill work; coach John Hynes said he can play both center and wing. - Marcus Johansson left Tuesday's game with a head hit and will not join the team for the two-game trip; there is no official timetable for his return. - Jonas Brodin returned Tuesday after a January surgery and said he feels 100 percent; he chose not to play in the Olympics because he did not feel ready. - The NHL trade deadline is at 2 p.m. Friday; Minnesota recently added McCarron, defenseman Jeff Petry and claimed Robby Fabbri, and reported interest in other moves appears uncertain. Summary: McCarron's arrival gives the Wild an additional physical forward and a player teammates describe as a glue guy who can contribute on faceoffs and the penalty kill. The team travels to Vegas for Friday's game and faces the NHL trade deadline at 2 p.m. Friday; further roster changes are undetermined at this time.