Wild Could Have Exciting Backup Option If Wallstedt Is Traded

The Minnesota Wild are looking for more ways to upgrade ahead of the trade deadline this season to have a larger advantage over the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars or to just keep up with them if those teams make larger additions, which it seems as though they're set to as well.

The Wild have already brought in Quinn Hughes, but that was to address their defense. They still have their forward group to make more suitable for a Stanley Cup run. Center is a place where they'd like to upgrade, and there are short term and long term options. Some may involve parting with Jesper Wallstedt, which it appears as though Minnesota is willing to do to properly build a winner.

While Wallstedt is already good and will likely have a strong career, Filip Gustavsson is also in Minnesota and signed as the starter for the next five years following this season. That only leaves room for a split net at best and Gustavsson has recently retaken the starter's net from Wallstedt, opening the door to a potential trade.

It was suggested on The Athletic that "If the Wild trade Wallstedt, Marc-Andre Fleury could be a backup option." Whether it's a long-shot or not, he did play for the Wild last season and still performed well enough as a backup. Only one goalie plays at a time and there's so much value in Wallstedt that Minnesota can't be both resisting trading him when he likely won't start in the playoffs, and be looking for major upgrades.

These aren't the first reports that Fleury could come back to play this season. With the goalie market pretty weak, he is a better option than a number of goalies, has a winning pedigree, and has experience.

The Wild don't have to fret if Fleury isn't a backup option if they trade Wallstedt though. Gustavsson has proven he can handle plenty of games at a high level, and there are other veteran or younger NHL-ready options around the league that they can quickly shift to if they already don't have eyes on them.