The Minnesota Wild have had to dig deep into their organizational depth chart this season, with injuries forcing a steady stream of call-ups from Iowa to St. Paul.
From Matt Boldy to Marcus Johansson and Zach Bogosian, the Wild’s NHL roster has looked more like a triage unit at times. But Monday’s recall caught more than a few fans off guard - and for a moment, had them holding their breath.
Just ahead of their overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens, the Wild announced that veteran goaltender Cal Petersen had been recalled from Iowa. The 31-year-old served as the backup while Filip Gustavsson turned in a solid performance, stopping 17 shots en route to his 19th win of the season.
That raised an obvious question: where was Jesper Wallstedt?
Fortunately for Minnesota, this wasn’t a case of “roster management” or anything more ominous. Wallstedt, the highly regarded rookie netminder, was simply under the weather. With his availability in doubt, the Wild made the emergency call to bring up Petersen, ensuring they had a second goalie dressed and ready.
Looking ahead, the Wild have just one more game - a Wednesday tilt in Nashville - before the Olympic break. Wallstedt’s status for that game remains uncertain, so there’s a good chance Petersen travels with the team to Music City.
Whether he sees the ice is another story. Gustavsson is clearly the starter, and unless something changes, Petersen is likely to stay in the backup role.
Petersen, who signed with Minnesota this past offseason to bolster their goaltending depth, has spent the entire year in the AHL. His numbers in Iowa - a 2.82 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage - don’t jump off the page, and his 4-13-0 record reflects the struggles of a team that sits dead last in the Central Division. Iowa’s 12-26-4-1 mark has made it a tough environment for any goalie, let alone one trying to rediscover his NHL form.
Still, the timing of this recall - just days before the Olympic roster freeze kicks in (no trades allowed after 2:00 PM CST on February 4) - is enough to stir speculation. Wallstedt’s name has surfaced in trade rumors recently, with the Wild reportedly exploring ways to shore up their depth at center.
If Minnesota is serious about moving the 23-year-old netminder, they’d need a backup plan. And right now, that plan isn’t exactly obvious.
Behind Gustavsson, the Wild’s goaltending cupboard is pretty bare. Petersen, who hasn’t appeared in an NHL game since his stint with Philadelphia during the 2023-24 season, is the most experienced option under contract.
After him, it’s a short list: Samuel Hlavaj, with 54 games of AHL experience, and 21-year-old Riley Mercer, who’s still developing. That’s it.
That thin depth chart is a big reason why a Wallstedt trade would be so complicated. His upside is clear, and giving him up without a reliable replacement could leave the Wild exposed during a critical stretch run after the Olympics.
Of course, when there’s a goalie vacancy in Minnesota, one name always seems to find its way into the conversation: Marc-Andre Fleury. The future Hall-of-Famer has spent time in the area and remains a fan favorite, which has fueled some speculation about a possible return.
But according to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, those rumors are just that. Fleury, by all accounts, is enjoying retirement and has no plans to lace up the pads again.
So where does that leave GM Bill Guerin? If he’s seriously considering moving Wallstedt, he’ll almost certainly need to swing a second deal to bring in a veteran goaltender. Trusting Petersen or Mercer to handle backup duties down the stretch - especially with postseason hopes hanging in the balance - would be a risky bet.
For now, Petersen’s recall is just a precaution. But with the trade deadline and Olympic freeze looming, the Wild’s goaltending situation remains one to watch closely.