Wild blockbuster trade rumors are distracting everyone from a massive problem

The main question entering the offseason for the Minnesota Wild is whether Bill Guerin will acquire Dylan Larkin or Vincent Trocheck to help supplement the team's center-ice depth. Guerin sold off many of their best trade assets to acquire Quinn Hughes this past season, which leaves him with few pieces to make another blockbuster deal. One piece he does have to trade is a goaltender, which, unfortunately, neither the New York Rangers nor the Detroit Red Wings needs.

Jesper Wallstedt was a name that popped up in trade discussions leading up to the trade deadline, as Minnesota had depth in their crease with both him and Filip Gustavsson performing well. Wallstedt looks like the future of Minnesota's crease, but Gustavsson's contract doesn't end until the 2030-31 season. With the way the rookie played this season, he doesn't have time to wait.

Wallstedt was given the reins for Game 1 of the first round after a tough end to the year for Gustavsson, and didn't relinquish the role until Game 2 of the second round against the Colorado Avalanche. The veteran failed to make the most of his opportunity, allowing four goals on 22 shots to take the loss and head back to the bench for Game 3. With all that in mind, the Wild quietly have a goaltending controversy heading into the 2026-27 season.

The problem with goaltending tandems is that no matter how evenly split the teams are during the regular season, there will always be one goaltender who takes precedence in the playoffs. When the goaltender who takes precedence is the one on the entry-level deal and not the one making $6.8 million annually, people start to ask questions.

Will the Wild trade Filip Gustavsson?

It would be extremely surprising if the Wild just gave Wallstedt 10 of 11 starts in the postseason, only to turn around and trade him in the offseason. He ran into a buzzsaw against the Avalanche in the second round, but that doesn't mean he isn't worthy of keeping the role that he earned.

It isn't as if Gustavsson is happy with the way things went in the postseason. It would be one thing if the veteran had taken the demotion gracefully, but his comments during the playoff run, in which he told reporters to "talk to the players who are playing," came across as a bit bitter.

Who can really blame Gustavsson? He started the Olympics as Sweden's starter, before falling to the third goaltender role after a tough start to the tournament. Ironically, the goaltender who overtook him to become Jacob Markstrom's back-up in that case was also Wallstedt.

Maybe it is time for Gustavsson to get a fresh start and break up from his tandem-mate. The Red Wings or Rangers may not have any use for him, but getting out from a backup goaltender who is making $6.8 million annually would help Larkin or Trocheck's contracts fit much more easily. The only task for Guerin is to find a team willing to take him.