According to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, watch for the Ottawa Senators to enter into trade discussions for Jesper Wallstedt, should the Minnesota Wild make their top prospect goaltender available ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
Speculation has picked up regarding Wallstedt, in part because the Wild are looking for a top center. Also, because Samuel Hlavaj shone in Slovakia’s Olympic win over Finland. Perhaps he gives Wild GM Bill Guerin some comfort that trading Wallsted won’t cripple the team’s goaltending.
Wallstedt, 23, is an RFA in 2027. He’s having a solid season for the Wild and many teams will see him as a future No. 1 in the NHL. He may not be there quite yet, but Ullmark’s personal struggles and some inconsistency means the Senators might be looking for something more than a backup. A 1B option would be ideal. And, at a current cap hit of $2.2 million, Wallstedt is affordable.
Johnston Likes the Ottawa Senators For Wallstedt
Wallstedt’s strong rookie season in Minnesota has drawn significant attention. He posted a 14-5-4 record, 2.68 GAA, .914 save percentage, and four shutouts. His consistency has put him on the early Calder Trophy watch and caught the eyes of league executives. Ottawa’s interest is understandable, as the Senators, near a playoff spot, struggle defensively—allowing 3.23 goals per game and relying heavily on goaltending amid a weak penalty kill.
Johnston wrote in a recent article:
The Senators would almost certainly be holding down a playoff spot right now if they’d received better goaltending this season. They’re 32nd overall with an .873 team percentage at the Olympic break. The allure of acquiring Wallstedt is that he’d give them insurance behind No. 1 Linus Ullmark and immediately improve their tandem. He’s also on a cost-controlled contract through next season that should fit in with Ullmark’s pricier deal.”
Johnston seems to believe it would be worth a high price to fortify the Senators’ goaltending, making them a near lock for the playoffs.
However, it won’t be cheap to acquire him. Johnston adds, “Finding the right trade package is a notable barrier here. The Senators don’t own their 2026 first-round pick, but they do have multiple roster players who could get a deal like this one across the finish line.”
It seems unlikely that the Senators would trade one of their top centers to satisfy what the Wild are looking for, but they do have both Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto on the roster, neither of whom have trade protection. Pinto has 15 goals and 29 points in 47 games. He’s locked in until 2030. Cozens has 18 goals and 43 points in 57 games. He’s under contract, also until 2030.
Next: Same Team Popping Up as Elias Pettersson Trade Speculation Grows
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