The Wild Should Be Thinking Ahead On Filip Gustavsson’s Return

Image courtesy of Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images By Eric Forga - 50 minutes ago The Minnesota Wild may soon face a problem that winning teams would love to have, but that doesn’t make the decision any easier. Filip Gustavsson ’s eventual return will give Minnesota another established goaltender. Could it also force management to confront a bigger question: Is keeping its strongest possible tandem the best use of its roster resources? Minnesota shouldn’t consider moving Wallstedt. He has given the Wild compelling reasons to build around him. Through their first 20 games, he started 17, posted a league-leading 12 wins, and averaged 1.93 goals against on a .925 save percentage. Minnesota’s 13-3-4 record reflects a strong team, but its young goaltender has been central to that success. That doesn’t automatically make Gustavsson expendable. However, it changes the conversation about what the Wild need most. Gustavsson hasn’t played this season following offseason hip surgery. His next doctor's appointment is reportedly scheduled for November 17, when clearance could become possible. That’s a potential checkpoint, not a guaranteed return date, and medical clearance wouldn’t immediately establish his game readiness. The straightforward option is to bring him back alongside Wallstedt. There’s a strong argument for that approach: Wallstedt has carried an unusually heavy early workload, and a healthy Gustavsson could provide meaningful relief. Protecting the young starter matters, especially if Minnesota expects to play deep in the postseason. But the safest decision in goal isn't necessarily the one that produces the strongest complete roster. Minnesota should ask whether Gustavsson could help acquire a skater who addresses a more pressing need. The Wild’s recent projected lineup placed Kirill Kaprizov , Joel Eriksson Ek , and Matt Boldy together, with Maxim Shabanov, Danila Yurov , and Yakov Trenin forming the second line. That configuration invites a legitimate roster-building question: Would another established offensive contributor create more value than a premium second goaltender? That’s an argument for exploring the market, not claiming the Wild are already shopping Gustavsson. The challenge is that identifying a logical trade candidate doesn’t guarantee a convenient trade. Gustavsson would first need to demonstrate that he’s healthy and effective. Interested teams would have their own positional needs, financial limitations, and assessments of his recovery. Minnesota shouldn’t assume another club will surrender exactly the forward it wants in a one-for-one exchange. Therefore, they should make a series of moves rather than one blockbuster. The Wild could explore moving Gustavsson for assets, then use those assets in a separate pursuit of offensive help. Alternatively, management could retain both goaltenders and reshape the skater group through other deals. These are possible strategies, not reported negotiations. The objective should be to improve the entire lineup, not force a goalie trade just because Wallstedt has emerged. The boundary should be clear: Minnesota shouldn’t solve its roster questions by trading the young goaltender whose performance helped create them. Wallstedt’s start doesn’t guarantee permanent elite production. No short stretch can. But his results provide a persuasive basis for treating him as a foundational player rather than the most attractive asset they should flip for a player at another position. Gustavsson’s return should expand Minnesota’s options, not trigger a rushed decision. Evaluate his recovery, protect Wallstedt’s workload, and determine what the trade market actually offers. If moving Gustavsson creates a meaningful roster upgrade, management should seriously consider it. If reaching that upgrade requires multiple trades, it should explore those too. The goal isn’t simply to possess excellent goaltending. It’s to build the strongest possible contender, with Wallstedt remaining part of the foundation. By Eric Forga Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form . minnesota wild nhl filip gustavsson