Wild rumors: Minnesota’s ‘Plan B’ to acquire top C after Filip Gustavsson injury

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It’s no secret that the Minnesota Wild are looking to take another step forward after winning a playoff round for the first time in over a decade.

General manager Bill Guerin hasn’t been afraid to make aggressive moves, and Minnesota appears intent on upgrading down the middle ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

While the 2025-26 season ended in a five-game Round 2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, there is optimism in the State of Hockey that this could be the beginning of sustained success for the club.

The Wild are expected to pursue a legitimate top-line center this offseason, which would allow Joel Eriksson Ek to slide into a more natural second-line role.

Minnesota had seemingly identified goaltender Filip Gustavsson as a logical trade chip to clear salary, but the veteran’s recent hip surgery has complicated that possibility.

Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin reported this week that forward Ryan Hartman could instead emerge as a potential cap casualty.

“The Wild want a top-end No. 1 center and to extend all-world blueliner Quinn Hughes. They thus need to move money out. Trading goaltender Filip Gustavsson, relegated to $6.8-million 1B status this postseason, would’ve been the logical play, but his hip surgery puts his status for the start of next season – and trade value – in flux,” wrote the hockey insider.

“Plan B could be unloading Hartman’s cap hit, which would clear space for immediate help, though it wouldn’t impact any cap space for a Hughes extension in 2027-28. Hartman’s 15-team no-trade clause shrinks to a 10-teamer for the final season of his deal. He’s not the No. 1 scoring-line pivot he’s too often asked to be in Minnesota, but his blend of skill and agitation make him plenty useful.”

The 31-year-old has averaged 23 goals and 49 points per 82 games over his last five seasons, and his $4 million cap hit is reasonable for a player capable of providing secondary offense and physicality.

Hartman isn’t the ideal top-line center Minnesota has searched for in recent years, but he still brings valuable versatility and edge to the lineup.

If the Wild are serious about landing another elite forward this summer, moving his contract could become one of Guerin’s clearest paths toward opening up cap space.

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