Yakov Trenin seeks first goal as Minnesota Wild lead Western Conference
The 29-year-old center has recorded 19 shots in 19 games this season but remains scoreless despite leading the NHL in hits.
By Ethan Cook ·
Minnesota Wild center Yakov Trenin faces a quiet statistical gap before Tuesday's 6 p.m. puck drop in Montreal. The 29-year-old has not yet found the back of the net this season, a contrast to the team's current standing atop the Western Conference with 12 wins and 27 points.
Trenin arrived in Minnesota during the 2024 free agency window. General Manager Bill Guerin signed the winger to a four-year, $14 million contract. That move transformed the player into one of the league's most physical competitors. Over his first two seasons in Minnesota, Trenin has recorded 654 hits. He currently leads the NHL with 413 hits in 82 regular-season games for the 2025-26 campaign.
Despite his defensive impact, Trenin has generated scoring chances recently. He logged 19 shots on goal in his first 19 games. His last weekend appearances against San Jose and Tampa Bay included strong offensive opportunities that did not result in goals. Trenin currently ranks third on the Wild with eight points.
Head coach John Hynes noted that Trenin has had looks at the net but should not force the outcome. Hynes emphasized that the player must maintain his physical identity rather than searching for a goal. "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. "But I also think the challenge in those situations is you have to continue to play well and not be searching for it."
Trenin understands his current role on the third line. He skates between Danila Yurov, who has six goals, and Max Shabanov, who has eight. Trenin explained that his job is to forecheck and retain possession to create space for his linemates. "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. He acknowledged that while he set a career-high of 17 goals with Nashville in 2021-22, the wait for his first goal this season is building.
The Wild will travel to Montreal, Toronto, and Boston this week. Defensemen Jared Spurgeon and Brock Faber, along with goaltender Filip Gustavsson, will join the team on this trip. Hynes said Spurgeon is closer to returning to the lineup, but all three are ramping up conditioning. The Wild placed Tyler Pitlick and defenseman Cameron Crotty on waivers on Monday.
