![\"Jesper](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NHL-Chicago-Blackhawks-at-Minnesota-Wild-28100488-scaled-e1769643370381.jpg\")
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, as trade rumors<\/a> and reports around the NHL have gained steam, a new trade chip has been added<\/a> to the Minnesota Wild trade block.<\/p>\n Jesper Wallstedt, 23<\/a>, entered the 2025-26 season<\/a> as the unquestioned backup goalie in St. Paul, behind Filip Gustavsson. In his first full NHL season, he has blossomed back into one of the top young goalies in hockey.<\/p>\n Ranking the NHL\u2019s best U25 goalies currently in the NHL, based on how good I think they\u2019ll be in their prime:<\/p>\n 1. Jesper Wallstedt #mnwild<\/a> What would you change? pic.twitter.com\/gQfbu0f5Ub<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NHLMuse (@NHL_Muse) January 27, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n And that brings us to active trade talks<\/a> happening around the league right now, as we get closer to the Olympic break, and eventually the trade deadline.<\/p>\n After the Quinn Hughes trade, the Minnesota Wild are running paper thin on trade assets to offer teams at the NHL trade deadline. For a team like the Wild, seemingly intent on making another another blockbuster, that\u2019s a problem.<\/p>\n MN Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt added to The Athletic trade board<\/p>\n Minnesota\u2019s solution<\/a>: Dangling another former first round draft pick on the NHL trade block.<\/p>\n But this time, at a position that NHL organizations rarely see young twenty-somethings that can start right now come available, especially with the elite prospect cred of Jesper Wallstedt.<\/p>\n We will see what the MN Wild can reel in for his 2021 No. 18 overall draft pick<\/a>, but after Wallstedt was added as the No. 10 overall asset on The Athletic\u2019s NHL trade board<\/a>, his departure from St. paul almost feels inevitable.<\/p>\n 10. Jesper Wallstedt<\/p>\n Goalie | 23 y\/o | 2027 RFA<\/p>\n [Wallstedt] is having a superb season as part of the tandem in Minnesota but finds himself on this list because of the tremendous value he could potentially bring back in a trade.<\/p>\n The Wild have Filip Gustavsson under contract through 2031 and will at least listen to interest in Wallstedt, according to The Athletic\u2019s Michael Russo.<\/p>\n Minnesota is going to need to get a front-line player back in order to make this work. But after parting with their other A-plus assets in order to land Quinn Hughes in December, the Wild are willing to take another big swing before the deadline.<\/p>\n The Athletic<\/a><\/p>\n After his heroic performance on Tuesday night against the rival Blackhawks<\/a>, Wallstedt is now sporting<\/a> a 2.71 goals against average and .912 save percentage, the latter of which ranks<\/a> 5th among NHL netminders with 20 or more starts this season.<\/p>\n Can we talk about Jesper Wallstedt\u2019s celly tho <\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/Xyo26ZBR5O<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 BarDown (@BarDown) January 28, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Minnesota Wild trade of Wallstedt starting to feel inevitable<\/p>\n But from what The Athletic writes<\/a> above, MN Wild president of hockey operations Bill Guerin now sees Jesper Wallstedt as something other than his goalie of the future.<\/p>\n The Wild\u2019s starting goaltender Filip Gustavsson is just 27 years old<\/a> and under contract<\/a> through the 2030-2031 season. His new deal and consistent play the past couple seasons have made the Wild more comfortable with moving Wallstedt.<\/p>\n However, it appears they already may have a veteran backup to take Jesper\u2019s place, should the Minnesota Wild trade their young netminder before the March 6 trade deadline.<\/p>\n What if I told you Marc-Andre Fleury REALLY misses hockey and that the only viable path back might be with the Minnesota Wild\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026where his good buddy Bill Guerin may very well need goalie help soon? https:\/\/t.co\/PanTVlvxtJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 27, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Related: MN Wild Worried About FanDuel Sports Network<\/a><\/p>\n Earlier this week at The Athletic, Michael Russo<\/a> and Joe Smith<\/a> wrote about how Marc-Andre Fleury is really missing hockey<\/a>. While the two sides have yet to talk discuss a possible unretirement, the only logical path back to the ice might be a Wallstedt trade out of St. Paul.<\/p>\n Whether they have a backup plan behind Gus Bus or not, the Minnesota Wild must to fix their issues up the middle if they really want to enter the postseason with a roster worthy of the franchise\u2019s first deep playoff run in two decades.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Jesper Wallstedt<\/a> NHL Trade Deadline<\/a> NHL Trade Rumors<\/a> <\/p>\n More About: Minnesota Wild<\/a><\/p>\n Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google. \t\t\t
2. Spencer Knight #Blackhawks<\/a>
3. Yaroslav Askarov #TheFutureIsTeal<\/a>
4. Dustin Wolf #Flames<\/a>
5. Jacob Fowler #GoHabsGo<\/a> <\/p>\n![\"Add](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/google_preferred_source_badge.png\"){kind=icon}
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