The Minnesota Wild have been working the phones in recent weeks and it feels like their top trade target is Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin. Larkin would be a great fit for the Wild and end their search for a No. 1 center, but finding the assets to make a trade has been difficult as the pressure mounts to get a deal done.
The Red Wings haven’t budged in their demands, but they may have opened an avenue when they traded goalie Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth on Friday night. The deal, which netted Detroit the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the NHL Draft, doesn’t seem to be relevant to the Wild’s pursuit of Larkin, but it clears a logjam at goalie that could allow the Wild to dangle one of their netminders as the centerpiece of a trade.
The Wild’s goalies could be in play as they look to pry Dylan Larkin from the Red Wings
The Wild don’t have many assets to offer after trading for Quinn Hughes last year and David Jiricek the year before. While many believe they may need to find a third team to complete a trade for Larkin, the Wild’s best assets are at goalie with Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson as reasonable trade candidates.
Wallstedt is the most likely to be moved as Gustavsson signed a five-year contract extension that begins next season and with a full no-trade clause. Gustavsson is also slated to undergo hip surgery this summer, which could give the Wild pause to put Wallstedt in a trade.
While the Red Wings have John Gibson as their starter, he had a rough year, posting a 29-22-4 record with a 2.72 goals against average and .901 save percentage in 57 starts. Trey Augustine is considered to be the goaltender of the future in Detroit, but also is expected to spend the 2026-27 season in the AHL, giving them the need for a second goaltender.
Wallstedt or Gustavsson would be unlikely to serve as Gibson’s backup in Detroit, but they could at least hold the fort until Augustine is ready. It would also allow the Wild to offer their top assets in a deal for Larkin and potentially take a step forward in negotiations. But the Cossa trade also could hurt them as they need a goalie back to cover for Gustavsson’s recovery from surgery.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman drives a tough bargain and it would still take a lot for the Wild to make a trade happen. But after reportedly making a big offer for Brady Tkachuk, Minnesota is likely to do the same to acquire Larkin and may not have the avenue to dangle their goaltender depth to make a deal happen.
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