Why would the Wild trade Jesper Wallstedt?
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Monday’s episode of 32 Thoughts that Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt’s name has been thrown around in trade rumors, suggesting that GM Bill Guerin is willing to go all in after acquiring Quinn Hughes in a trade earlier in the season.
“Wallstedt’s name in Minnesota… I think that might be the guy.” 😳 In the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, @FriedgeHNIC and @sportsnetkyle discuss the possibility of a Jesper Wallstedt trade, Artemi Panarin rumours, and much more. 🎧: sportsnet.ca/podcasts/32-th…
On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discuss the trade rumors surrounding Wallstedt, and whether it would be a mistake to move on from the 23-year-old rookie netminder.
Tyler Yaremchuk: A little rumor that popped up yesterday that I found really, really interesting. Elliotte Friedman reported that the Wild are trying to get another player, likely a center, and wondering what GM Bill Guerin will use as a trade piece. He inferred that Jesper Wallstedt would be that guy.
This goes back to a conversation you and I had at the beginning of the season: When they signed Filip Gustavsson to a long-term deal, we both went, “whoa, why are you so quick to extend Gustavsson when you have Wallstedt sitting there?” It was a curious extension at the time, and it got both of us thinking, “are they more committed to Gustavsson than Wallstedt?”
If you’re going to make a crazy-big splash, it would make sense that you dangle a piece like Wallstedt because what team wouldn’t want to add a 23-year-old who, I know is early in his career, but he could be a future No. 1 goaltender?
Fill in the bank question, Carter: The Wild trading Wallstedt would be _____?
Carter Hutton: It would be high risk. We’ve seen this so many times where a team has a platoon of goalies, where they have a 1-A and a 1-B, and the safety blanket there is so important for their growth. That being said, if the Wild are all in, and they already acquired Quinn Hughes in a star-studded Central Division, what else is going to help you? I think you need to keep adding if you really want to make some noise in the Central.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…