NHL insiders suggest Minnesota is quietly shopping a prized asset
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Daniel Lucente
Jan 27, 2026 (11:01)
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Jesper Wallstedt hitting the rumor mill again is the kind of goalie news that makes fanbases start getting really excited.
Elliotte Friedman floated Wallstedt as a name that "could be available" on 32 Thoughts, and the kicker was the line that Minnesota may have already explored it once.
That matters, because this is not a random backup getting mentioned for clicks.
Wallstedt is 23, drafted in 2021, Round 1, 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild, and he's already putting up starter-level results in the NHL.
As of today, he's sitting at 12-5-4 with a 2.71 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and four shutouts in 21 games.
So why even entertain it?
Because goalie value is weird, and Minnesota's roster is built to win now, not in three years.
If the Wild think they can turn a premium young goalie into a true top-six driver, that's the kind of swing GMs talk themselves into at the deadline.
"You're looking at goalies who could be available...Mike Russo put out Jesper Wallstedt's name; I think that Minnesota might have tried that once already."
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
Jesper Wallstedt and the Minnesota Wild trade gamble
And honestly, Wild fans would have every right to feel torn, proud of the kid, terrified of the regret.
The contract layer makes it even more real.
Wallstedt carries a $2.2 million cap hit through 2026-27, and he's still RFA after that, which is basically gold for cap planners.
If Minnesota "tried it once already," that suggests they've been testing the market, not panicking after a bad week.
The next game-to-game stretch matters too, because every big start he makes raises the ask.
If this turns into an actual bidding war, the Wild can't settle for "promise." They need points.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 27|196 ANSWERS NHL insiders suggest Minnesota is quietly shopping a prized asset Should the Minnesota Wild actually consider trading Jesper Wallstedt? | ||
| Yes | 101 | 51.5 % |
| No | 95 | 48.5 % |
| List of polls | ||