Wild got great goalie trade news thanks to the Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Wild were already involved in some goalie trade rumors before the Olympic roster freeze.
Advertisement
Now as players return for NHL action, there’s another path the Wild can take.
That’s all thanks to Samuel Hlavaj, who was brilliant in Milan for the Slovakian national team.
Hlavaj has been playing at the AHL level and is the third goalie in the organizational depth chart, which opens two distinct paths.
MORE:Â Jack Hughes, not a miracle, just magic
In one, Hlavaj becomes the trade candidate.
In the other, he allows Minnesota to trade Jesper Wallstedt and feel better about bringing up Hlavaj as his replacement.
Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin broke this down further in a stock watch column on Monday.
Advertisement
“Hlavaj himself established his trade value, and he’s relatively expendable at third on the depth chart behind Filip Gustavsson and Wallstedt,” Larkin writes. “The other perspective: Hlavaj looked so good in Milan that he has potential as Minnesota’s long-term No. 2 and makes it less painful to trade Wallstedt. Either way, Hlavaj’s Olympics showing was great news for the Wild.”
MORE:Â Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau in special way after gold medal
The Wild have already been active in the trade market this season, having swung the huge trade to get Quinn Hughes from the Canucks. Given how Hughes has played so far, and how he played at the Olympics, Minnesota looks brilliant for that move.
If they can get the goalie maneuvering right, potentially to add a center, it’ll be an even better roster — especially if Hlavaj’s rising stock can help them out.
Advertisement
More NHL news: