It's not quite as dramatic as Berlin, but another wall might be about to fall -- this one in St. Paul.
Jesper Wallstedt has burst onto the scene during his rookie season, shutting down opposing offenses and looking every bit like the top prospect he emerged as earlier in the year. He ranked first in save percentage among all goalies in the NHL and is 12-5-4 with a 2.70 GAA and .912 save percentage, which is part of a Top 10 goalie tandem in the entire league.
To some, that might mean the Minnesota Wild have an elite goaltending duo to ride into the playoffs with, but to others -- notably GM Bill Guerin -- it's a valuable trade chip to flip.
Both Michael Russo and Elliotte Friedman have mentioned the Wild potentially using Wallstedt in a trade to acquire a top center or forward. It's a rumor that feels a little stunning given how well the rookie has played and how important good netminding is to a team making a run in the playoffs.
For as surprising as it may seem, though, it's a move that would make a ton of sense and could be the difference between the Wild fizzling out in the early rounds and a Stanley Cup finally coming to Minnesota.
Wild trading away Jesper Wallstedt wouldn't be as painful as it seems
Hearing that the Wild would entertain the idea of trading a hot young rookie is naturally jarring, but remembering that Minnesota already has Filip Gustavsson takes a lot of the sting off.
For as good as Wallstedt has been, Gustavsson boasts a 17-9-6 record with a .907 save percentage and 2.92 GAA so far this season. He's proven to be a tremendously reliable option in the past, and he's under team control through 2031 thanks to an extension that kicks in this upcoming offseason.
Gustavsson is also only 27 years old, so this isn't a case of the Wild selling a rising young star for a short-term gamble -- at least as far as goaltending resources go. In fact, it could be the inverse as Russo noted that Marc-Andre Fleury might come out of retirement to ride alongside Gustavsson if Wallstedt is traded away.
That is the flip side of this coin, though. Right now the Wild have a luxury: two top goalies that can be swapped out for one another in the playoffs. Having both Gustavsson and Wallstedt also means there's a safety net in place should one of them suffer an injury.
If Wallstedt is traded away, then the safety net becomes a 41-year-old who hasn't played since last season.
Of course, trading Wallstedt wouldn't happen unless the Wild get what they need which is far more important than having two top goalies. The Wild could have Dominik Hasek and Martin Brouduer but unless they find a top center to complete its lineup then it might not matter.
For as far as goaltending has taken teams in the playoffs, a lack of offensive firepower can easily put dreams down.
Let's zoom out for a moment and appreciate the spot Minnesota is in, though. This is a team that just flipped a ton of youthful resources and future capital to get Quinn Hughes and try to win now. The goal has shifted from getting set up for Stanley Cup contention to making a run now while also selling Hughes on signing a long-term extension.
If the cost of that is Wallstedt, then it'll be pennies on the dollar. The Wild only just climbed out of the hole they've been in as far as roster moves go, and there's no better time than the present to start getting after it rather than waiting for things to fall into place.