NHL Rumors: Minnesota Wild Must Trade Marek Zidlicky

First, it was reported that Marek Zidlicky of the Minnesota Wild had agreed to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. Then, it was reported he hadn't even been asked to waive the clause yet.

So, what exactly is going on?

That's hard to say as of yet, but given the situation in Minnesota, Zidlicky would be best served to waive the clause and the Wild would be wise to trade the veteran sooner than later.

Let's start with the report that Zidlicky had waived his clause, from Michael Russo of the Star Tribune:

"

Zidlicky's agent, Larry Kelly, has confirmed to me this morning TSN Darren Dreger's tweet that Zidlicky has waived his no-trade clause to go to the Devils. No deal has been completed yet, but GM Chuck Fletcher and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello are working on it. No word yet on what the Wild may be getting back.

"

It's a move that makes sense for each team. The Wild haven't played well with Zidlicky in the lineup and he hasn't exactly seen eye-to-eye with head coach Mike Yeo on his role with the team.

Ah, but the plot thickens. You see, Russo has since updated the story by noting the trade to New Jersey was all very "premature" and he hasn't asked for him to waive the clause yet.

"

“I haven’t asked Zid to waive his no-trade for any specific trade,” Fletcher said by phone this morning. “I haven’t called him and said anything’s close.

“I can tell you for sure I’m planning on talking to other teams. We haven’t traded Zid, we haven’t made the decision to trade Zid at this point. I have not formally asked him to do anything because at this point I honestly don’t have anything to take to him, I don’t have anything for him to say yes or no to.”

"

Good grief.

One way or another, this situation has gotten to the point that Zidlicky needs to go. It's clear he doesn't want to be there, it's clear the Wild don't want him to be there and it's just gotten plain old bizarre in the process of moving him.

Seriously, I wrote this article and I'm a little confused as to what is happening here. Just trade him already, Minnesota.

Hit me up on Twitter—I'm #Linning.