If the Minnesota Wild decide to dangle Jesper Wallstedt ahead of the trade deadline, don’t be surprised if the Ottawa Senators are one of the first teams to pick up the phone.
The buzz around Wallstedt is growing, and for good reason. The 23-year-old netminder is putting together a strong rookie campaign, and while he may not be a full-fledged No. 1 just yet, he's showing all the signs of becoming one. With a 14-5-4 record, a 2.68 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and four shutouts, Wallstedt has been one of the more consistent young goaltenders in the league this season-and that’s not going unnoticed.
What’s fueling the speculation is twofold: First, Minnesota is reportedly in the market for a top center. Second, Samuel Hlavaj’s standout performance in Slovakia’s Olympic win over Finland might give GM Bill Guerin the confidence to explore his options with Wallstedt. If the Wild believe they have another capable goaltender in the pipeline, Wallstedt becomes a valuable trade chip-one that could help them address their needs up front.
That’s where Ottawa potentially comes in.
The Senators are hovering near a playoff spot, but their goaltending hasn’t exactly been helping the cause. They’re dead last in the league with a .873 team save percentage heading into the Olympic break.
That’s not just a problem-it’s the problem. Despite a talented roster and flashes of strong play, the team has struggled to keep the puck out of the net, allowing 3.23 goals per game and leaning heavily on their goaltenders to bail out a shaky penalty kill.
Linus Ullmark was brought in to stabilize the crease, but his season has been marked by inconsistency and personal struggles. That’s left Ottawa in a tricky spot.
They don’t necessarily need to replace Ullmark outright, but they could use a reliable 1B option-someone who can share the load and push the team over the playoff line. Wallstedt fits that mold.
He’s young, talented, and under contract at a manageable $2.2 million cap hit through next season. That kind of cost control is gold for a team trying to balance a competitive window with long-term planning.
The Senators’ interest in Wallstedt makes sense, but pulling off a deal won’t be easy.
Minnesota’s asking price is expected to be steep. They’re looking for a top center, and that’s not something Ottawa can easily spare-especially since they don’t hold their 2026 first-round pick.
That takes one of the more traditional trade chips off the board. Still, the Senators do have assets that could make a deal work.
Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto are two names to watch. Neither player has trade protection, and both are under contract through 2030.
Pinto has quietly put together a solid season with 15 goals and 29 points in 47 games, while Cozens has been even more productive, tallying 18 goals and 43 points in 57 games. They’re both young, controllable, and could help the Wild address their center depth without breaking their long-term structure.
But would Ottawa be willing to part with either? That’s the million-dollar question.
At the end of the day, this comes down to timing and priorities. If the Senators believe Wallstedt can solidify their crease and help push them into the postseason, they might be willing to pay a premium. And with the Wild seeking help down the middle, the pieces are there for a potential match-if both sides are willing to get creative.
Wallstedt may not be the biggest name on the trade board, but he could be one of the most impactful. For a team like Ottawa, desperate for stability in net and eyeing a playoff berth, he’s exactly the kind of swing worth taking.