The Minnesota Wild are hardly sitting quietly at the trade deadline this season. Despite making a huge splash with the Quinn Hughes trade, the Wild are still looking to add key pieces for a Stanley Cup run.
The Hughes trade depleted the Wild of their best trade chips. But there could be one chip that could head out the door for the right players.
As Michael Russo of The Athletic pointed out, the Wild could be amenable to a trade involving top prospect Jesper Wallstedt. The Minnesota goalie has been sensational this season. He’s done more than just steal a couple of games for the Wild this season.
However, parting with Wallstedt won’t be a haphazard move. The right trade will have to come along before Wild GM Bill Guerin gets trigger-happy. Russo expounded on the point:
“The Wild would be open to dealing Wallstedt, their top prospect, if the right deal comes along.”
The term “the right deal” is pretty vague. What would the right deal look like? Notably, the Wild are looking to add a top-line center. While there have been links to Artemi Panarin, the face is that Minnesota needs a number-one center to play with leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many top-line centers available this season. One name who could be on the block is the New York Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck. Trocheck wouldn’t be a bad choice. But a goalie of Wallstedt’s caliber would languish in New York behind Igor Shesterkin.
Perhaps another team with a high-end center and a clear need for a goalie might be a better fit.
Wild Have Already Looked at Trading Wallstedt
The idea of trading Wallstedt isn’t actually new. According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Wild have looked into moving the 23-year-old before. Friedman believes the Wild have made an effort to land a center by swapping Wallstedt.
Friedman explained in the latest edition of his 32 Thoughts Podcast:
“I think that Minnesota might have tried that once already, but you know, we’ve all been wondering, we all know the Wild are going to try to get another player, probably a center, we’re all sitting there saying, ‘What is he going to use?’ I think that might be the guy.”
Guerin and the Wild are running out of time to make a significant impact this season. Otherwise, moving Wallstedt might turn out to be a conversation better for the offseason.
Wallstedt Having Phenomenal Season in Minnesota
Wallstedt has had a phenomenal season in Minnesota. He has appeared in 21 games for the Wilf, winning 12 to go with a 2.70 GAA and a .914 SV%. The Swedish goalie’s biggest highlight this season was his post-shootout win celebration against the Colorado Avalanche earlier this season. The celebration drew the ire of Colorado players, who sought revenge in the next game.
Beyond emotional outbursts, Wallstedt has been rock solid. The 20th overall pick from the 2021 NHL Draft has lived up to the hype thus far. Considering the Wild have two solid goalies in Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson, the question will be whether moving Wallstedt could be a wise choice in the long run.
Ultimately, the Wild could cash in on Wallstedt’s fantastic run this season as they look to finally break through their playoff futility.
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