The Canadiens Need to Pursue Jesper Wallstedt

Wallstedt was drafted to be the guy, and he has lived up to that billing. His calm positioning, elite tracking, and ability to steal games without relying on desperation saves make him the type of goaltender teams build around for a decade. Unlike many young goalies who are still projecting off potential, Wallstedt has already crossed the threshold into established NHL goalie territory. That distinction matters, and it’s exactly why his availability would spark league-wide interest.

For the Wild, the motivation is understandable. They are trying to win now while navigating cap constraints and roster holes elsewhere. They are also already relying on Filip Gustavsson. For teams like the Canadiens, this could be the kind of market inefficiency you capitalize on when timelines don’t perfectly align.

How Wallstedt Fits in Montreal

From the Canadiens’ perspective, the appeal is obvious. Goaltending has been inconsistent, and while there have been strong stretches, there hasn’t been a true sense of long-term stability between the pipes. Montreal does have its future in Jacob Fowler, and the organization is very high on him, as they should be. But relying on Fowler to step in immediately as a full-time NHL starter would be asking a lot.

This is where Wallstedt makes so much sense. Bringing him in would allow the Canadiens to slow-cook Fowler’s development instead of forcing him into a 50-game workload right away. A Wallstedt-Fowler tandem could evolve naturally into a true 1A-1B situation, giving Montreal flexibility while keeping internal competition healthy.

More importantly, Wallstedt fits the Canadiens’ competitive window perfectly. He’s young enough to grow alongside the core of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky, yet experienced enough to provide immediate stability. That balance is incredibly hard to find at the goalie position. Instead of hoping Fowler hits his ceiling right away, Montreal could insulate him with a goalie who has already proven he can handle NHL pressure.

The Cost 

Of course, none of this comes cheap. Wallstedt’s value is extremely high, and Minnesota would rightfully demand a significant return. The Wild are reportedly looking for help now, which likely means an established NHL player would be part of the package. On top of that, a high-end prospect and a premium pick could also be required.

The comparison to Yaroslav Askarov’s trade to the San Jose Sharks is inevitable. Askarov was moved for David Edstrom, Magnus Chrona and a first-round pick. The key difference? Askarov had played only three NHL games at the time. Wallstedt is far more established, meaning the price would almost certainly be higher.

That’s where Montreal has an advantage. The Canadiens have one of the deepest prospect pools in the league, hold their first-round picks, and enough roster flexibility to absorb the loss of a good player without derailing their trajectory. Yes, it would hurt. Yes, it would be costly. But franchise goaltenders are rarely acquired in their early 20s, especially ones who are already delivering.

If Hughes truly believes this team is entering the next phase of its rebuild, then taking a big swing on a position as critical as goaltending makes sense. Wallstedt wouldn’t just be a luxury addition; he would be a foundational piece.