Jesper Wallstedt’s future with the Minnesota Wild is a major storyline heading into the offseason. Coming off a breakout season, Wallstedt is the Wild’s best trade chip if they want to acquire a No. 1 center. But his importance has been elevated with the news that Filip Gustavsson will undergo hip surgery this summer.
Because of Gustavsson’s uncertainty, Wallstedt has gone from a likely trade candidate to a player who could stick around. But that hasn’t stopped teams that need a goaltender from speculating what it could cost to bring them to their town including the Ottawa Senators.
According to the Ottawa Citizen’s Bruce Garrioch, Wallstedt is a “fan favorite” among Senators fans and could be in play as part of a trade for current captain Brady Tkachuk. But instead of Wallstedt being part of a package to bring Tkachuk to Minnesota, Garrioch suggested it could be the other way around.
“If the Wild are going to deal him – and it’s doubtful after the club’s playoff performance – then GM Bill Guerin will want a huge return. The belief is that the Wild would want Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk as part of a package for Wallstedt. You’re not paying that price for a No. 2 goalie.”
The Wild’s clearly aren’t going to give away Jesper Wallstedt this summer
The key words from Garrioch is not that the Wild are examining a Wallstedt-for-Tkachuk swap. It’s that he lists Tkachuk as part of a “package” to acquire Wallstedt. This isn’t the type of thinking that most fans have when the idea of trading Wallstedt crosses their mind, but it could be something to take note of when the trade proposals start flying later this summer.
Teams are desperate for goaltending and the Wild are in a position where they have a surplus. While the Wild signed Filip Gustavsson to a five-year, $34 million contract that includes a full-no trade clause in the first two years according to Puckpedia, he could jump at the chance to be an unquestioned No. 1 goaltender for another team that’s willing to pay the price to acquire him.
Wallstedt is also a more moveable candidate given his age (23), his performance (18-9-6, 2.61 GAA, .915 save percentage) and his contract status. While he’s a restricted free-agent at the end of next season and could command the same contract – if not more – than Gustavsson received, he’s also a valuable piece of any deal and could allow Guerin to ask for a “Godfather” offer (one they can’t refuse) in return.
That could hinder any team’s attempt for Wallstedt. But it also shows how much the league thinks of him at this stage in his career. After playing well during the regular season, Wallstedt was even better in the first round playoff series against the Dallas Stars, allowing 14 goals and a .929 save percentage over six games.
While Wallstedt didn’t play as well against the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, he still looked capable of having big games on a big stage including a 35-save performance in a Game 3 victory over the Avs on May 9.
With everything in front of them, the Wild clearly realize they have an asset that teams want. This means that Tkachuk alone wouldn’t be enough to acquire Wallstedt and it could mean other assets including goalie Leevi Merilainen or center Drake Batherson could be thrown into the deal.
It’s unlikely that Wallstedt would pull in a 3-for-1 trade with three high-profile assets coming back to Minnesota. But even bringing home two of them and potentially a draft pick would be beneficial if they feel they need to trade their young goaltender.
Whatever the package is, it certainly won’t be cheap and it increases the odds that Wallstedt could wind up staying in Minnesota through the offseason.
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