Minnesota Wild’s General Manager Bill Guerin (Image Credits: Imagn)

NHL Trade Rumors: Insider Says Wild Could Put Calder Trophy Candidate On The Trade Block To Land Impact Forward

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Swati Bhatia | Last updated Jan 26, 2026 2:38 PM ET

The Minnesota Wild have been thriving ever since signing star defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. Now, it appears the team wants to further strengthen its forward group as it looks to make a deep playoff run.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Wild are looking to add a big forward or a center and could be willing to trade their prized goaltender, Jesper Wallstedt.

On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman said, “The Wild gonna try to get another player, probably a center. We’re sitting there saying, what he’s gonna use. I think that might be the guy (Wallstedt). I’m not crazy about it either. I mean, it depends on what else you’re gonna do part of that, but if you’re all in to win and you got Gustavsson signed, when someone said to me was if it happens, you’ll understand why.”

NHL Goalie Save % Leaders (1/25/2026)

1) Devin Cooley (CGY) — 0.92393
2) Scott Wedgewood (COL) — 0.91788
3) Philipp Grubauer (SEA) — 0.91773
4) Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) — 0.91758
5) Jesper Wallstedt (MIN) — 0.91397
6) Logan Thompson (WSH) — 0.91377
7) Ilya Sorokin (NYI) —…
— Stats Drop (@StatsDrop) January 25, 2026

The 23-year-old Swedish goaltender is having a breakout season and is considered a top contender for the Calder Memorial Trophy. Wallstedt’s impact has been such that the Wild has the ninth-best goals-against average and the second-best save percentage in the NHL this season.

Why Minnesota Might Be Willing to Move Jesper Wallstedt

Jesper Wallstedt (Image Credits: Imagn)

Drafted 20th overall by Minnesota in 2021, Wallstedt is currently on a two-year, $4.4 million contract and has long been viewed as the future in goal for the Wild. Under normal circumstances, a player like that would be untouchable.

However, the Wild’s situation in net has changed with the contract extension of Filip Gustavsson. The 27-year-old is set to begin a five-year, $34 million extension next season, which firmly establishes him as the team’s clear No. 1.

With that kind of stability in goal, Minnesota suddenly has options, and it might well be the reason general manager Bill Guerin is willing to put a player of Wallstedt’s caliber on the trade market. While Guerin has yet to confirm the rumors, if true, they say a lot about where the Wild sees itself.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: