The Minnesota Wild Are Eyeing a Big Move at Center-Could Jesper Wallstedt Be the Key?
As the NHL heads toward the Olympic break and the 2026 trade deadline looms, the Minnesota Wild have their sights set on one thing: upgrading at center. It’s no secret. The Wild have been thin down the middle, and that was before they moved Marco Rossi-plus a hefty package-to Vancouver in exchange for elite defenseman Quinn Hughes.
That trade bolstered Minnesota’s blue line in a big way, but it also left a glaring hole at a premium position. And with the rest of the roster looking playoff-ready, the front office is clearly in win-now mode.
The Wild believe they have the makings of a team that can finally break through for a deep postseason run-something the franchise hasn’t accomplished in two decades. But to do that, they’ll likely need to solidify their center depth, and they may be willing to make a bold move to get there.
Goaltending Depth: A Strength… and a Trade Chip?
One area where Minnesota doesn’t seem to have any issues is in net. Filip Gustavsson has continued to be a rock in goal, putting up a 17-9-6 record with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. He’s under contract through 2030-31, and when he’s got a strong defense in front of him-which he does now-he’s proven to be one of the more reliable netminders in the league.
But the real twist in the Wild’s goaltending story comes from 23-year-old Jesper Wallstedt. After a rocky 2024-25 campaign that saw him struggle mentally and physically in the minors, Wallstedt has bounced back in a big way this season.
His 12-5-4 record, 2.70 GAA, and .912 SV% have turned heads across the league. Scouts are once again seeing the promise that made him a first-round pick in 2021.
And that resurgence could make him the most valuable trade chip Minnesota has.
Wallstedt on the Block?
According to league insiders, the Wild have been shopping Wallstedt in pursuit of elite center help. It’s a logical move when you consider the context.
Minnesota already has Gustavsson locked in long-term, and Wallstedt is one of three Swedish goalies named to the country’s Olympic roster. There’s not much reason for one NHL team to carry two of Sweden’s top three netminders-especially when one of them could bring back the kind of top-line center the Wild desperately need.
Wallstedt’s upside is undeniable. He’s had stretches this season where he’s looked like a future star.
But he’s also had some major swings in performance-games where his inconsistency cost the Wild dearly, regardless of how well the rest of the team played. For a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, that kind of volatility is a risk.
There’s also the question of playoff readiness. Wallstedt has yet to prove he can handle the pressure of an NHL postseason, and for a team looking to go deep this spring, that matters. If the Wild can flip him for a top-tier center, it’s a move that could pay off in a big way.
The Marc-Andre Fleury Wild Card
Of course, trading Wallstedt would leave a hole on the depth chart. But there’s a familiar name who might be able to fill it-Marc-Andre Fleury.
Fleury retired after last season, but he’s made it clear he still misses the game. In a recent interview, the future Hall of Famer admitted that stepping away has been tougher than expected.
“I still miss it,” Fleury said. “I still miss playing, miss the boys, miss the compete, trying to have a goal of winning.
The feeling of winning a game. I miss that for sure.”
He went on to say that while he felt mentally ready to retire at the time, the day-to-day life without hockey has been challenging.
“Being home and not having that goal to get something, try to go win something-it’s not easy.”
And here’s where things get interesting: multiple teams have reached out to Fleury this season, some more than once. There’s clearly interest around the league, and if he were to consider a comeback, there would be no shortage of suitors.
But there’s a catch-Fleury is deeply embedded in the Wild organization.
A Complicated Comeback
Since retiring, Fleury has been shadowing Minnesota’s front office. He’s been in private meetings with GM Bill Guerin, sitting in the executive suite during home games, and even traveled with the team to Arizona for midseason scouting sessions. He’s expected to take on a more formal role with the Wild next year, and his family is firmly rooted in Minnesota.
All of that makes a return to another team complicated-especially if that team ends up facing the Wild in the playoffs.
So if Fleury does decide to unretire, Minnesota might be the only logical destination. And if the Wild do trade Wallstedt, it wouldn’t just open the door for Fleury-it might make his return a necessity.
Bringing in another goalie would cost assets, and the Wild are already low on trade capital after the Hughes deal. Fleury, on the other hand, is already in the building.
Now, to be clear, there’s no indication that Guerin has approached Fleury about a comeback. This isn’t something that’s in motion-yet. But the pieces are there, and Fleury himself has acknowledged that he still feels the pull of the game.
If Minnesota moves Wallstedt and finds themselves needing a backup-or even a 1B option-down the stretch, Fleury could be the answer. The question is whether he’s ready to lace up the skates one more time.
The Bottom Line
The Wild are all-in on this season. They’ve built a roster they believe can contend, and they’re aggressively searching for the final piece. Trading Jesper Wallstedt could be the move that lands them a top-line center, and if that happens, don’t be surprised if Marc-Andre Fleury’s name re-enters the conversation in a very real way.
The window is open. Now it’s up to Minnesota to decide how far they’re willing to go to chase a Stanley Cup.