A shocking trade candidate has emerged out of nowhere. Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt was on fire to start the 2025-26 season, even finishing second in NHL.com’s midseason Calder Trophy poll. Now he is reportedly on the street.
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The natural reaction to this news is confusion. But if done right, it could be a good idea for the Wild to deal the 23-year-old budding star.
Wallstedt’s regression and declining use
Wallstedt’s start to the season has been nothing short of elite. From opening night through December 20, 2025, he had a .936 save percentage, 1.99 goals against average and 11.60 goals saved above expectations – all in the top three among netminders in double-digit games played. His 10–1–2 record was the icing on the cake.
Things haven’t gone so well since then. He has an .873 save percentage, 3.98 goals against average, minus 7.38 goals saved above expectation and a 2–4–2 record. Wallstedt previously got every other start for the Wild, going 50/50 with Filip Gustavsson, but now his usage has reverted to true backup status.
Inconsistency is normal for a young goalkeeper. For most teams, this would not be a reason to take drastic measures.
But the Wild aren’t most teams. After acquiring defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in December, Minnesota has ascended to Stanley Cup contender status. With a record of 29–14–10, the window has now arrived.
With Gustavsson, who has a five-year extension after the season, re-emerging as the definitive No. 1, Wallstedt becomes one of the team’s minor members.
When you’re in a Cup window, you can’t afford to waste time. If someone who doesn’t make a big impact has great trading value, it’s more than worth exploring your options.
What should the wildlife be looking for?
The primary target for the Wild is obvious: a center. Their wing depth has been fantastic this season and the defense is among the best in the league. But this team could use another star at center.
Minnesota has a few options here. One way is to acquire a veteran who is currently performing at a high level, which would theoretically give the team the best chance to win a Stanley Cup in the near future. The Wild could also go for a younger center. They may be playing good hockey now, but their best is yet to come.
Wallstedt is presumably good enough to get one of these centers in a one-for-one trade, or close to it. Let’s examine two movements:
One option would be Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators. With 51 points in 52 games and ranking 54e in Wins above replacement (WAR) among forwards, he plays like a top player in building a team for the future. However, given that he is 34 years old, it would be a huge risk to part with a potential franchise goaltender for someone who could take down Father Time at any moment. Yet the benefit is enormous.
Related: Oilers should trade for Ryan O’Reilly from the Predators
Now, the Predators may not seem like the perfect destination for Wallstedt, as they traded Yaroslav Askarov – another young goaltender with elite potential – for future in August 2024. But a lot has changed since then, with Nashville focusing on a win-later philosophy.
By switching gears, the Wild may want to target a younger center. Luckily for them, Shane Wright opts for fourth place overall in 2022 has emerged in rumors. While the 22-year-old isn’t yet in his physical prime, it could make sense for Minnesota to take things a step further.
Wright hasn’t gotten many opportunities with the Seattle Kraken, as the team has opted to give Matty Beniers and Chandler Stephenson the lion’s share of minutes at center. Wright was a bit of an outlier, but after scoring 44 points in 79 games as a third-line player last season, he may be worth the gamble.
Seattle is a defensive team that relies on its goaltenders, but netminders Joey Daccord (30) and Philipp Grubauer (34) will both be in their 30s early next season. For a team that has been ranked eighth in consecutive draft classes – and thus “way out” – a youthful presence between the pipes would be preferable.
So, should the Wild be eager to trade Wallstedt? Well, not necessarily. But considering the team’s opportunities are wide open and Gustavsson’s five-year contract, what other choice is there? If they can make a splash in the middle, the idea should at least be explored. Otherwise, Minnesota may be wasting precious win-now years.
Statistics courtesy of Hockey statistics
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