Surprise Canadian Team Labeled the Best Fit for Jesper Wallstedt

Good goaltending is one of the hardest things to find in the NHL, so when one of the league’s most promising young netminders — like Jesper Wallstedt — hits the rumor mill, almost every team has to consider whether they should make a move.

Talk has circulated about a potential fit with the Ottawa Senators, who have struggled mightily at the position this season, and even some chatter around the Edmonton Oilers trying to make up for their 2021 draft-day mistake — plausible or not. While those teams and several others make sense for the Swedish goalie, one analyst believes it’s actually the Vancouver Canucks who could be the perfect landing spot.

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Martin Biron made the case for Vancouver to go after Wallstedt during a recent matchmaker segment for TSN.

Biron said:

“I’m looking at the Vancouver Canucks — you’re going to say I’m crazy, they have Thatcher Demko, yeah, but Demko is out for the season now, and I don’t know what his health is going to be long term. With Wallstedt, you have a younger player who can develop into a top goaltender. I think he’s going to be really good, and that could be the next replacement for Thatcher Demko, which over the last few years, has really hindered the Canucks by not having consistent health in the crease. So I’m looking at Wallstedt and saying, let’s look at the future — like Askarov went to San Jose, Wallstedt could go to Vancouver for the future.”

The 23-year-old Wallstedt has had a strong season thus far, going 14-5-4 while posting a 2.72 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and four shutouts along the way. He’s in year one of the two-year, $4.4 million extension signed with the Wild in 2024.

Jesper Wallstedt Fits the Canucks’ Rebuild Timeline

While a move to Vancouver might sound surprising at first, Wallstedt clearly aligns with the Canucks’ rebuild plan, focused on acquiring young players, draft picks, and prospects before hoping to return to contention down the road.

Not only does he fit the timeline, but he could also accelerate the process, as we know a good goalie can mask a lot of issues of the team in front of them, and Wallstedt has the potential to be great.

Jim Rutherford and GM Patrik Allvin, of course, have a solid working relationship with Wild GM Bill Guerin, having just connected a few months ago on the Quinn Hughes blockbuster.

The challenge, however, is that Vancouver already has Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen signed for the next three and four years, respectively, beyond 2025–26, so they would certainly need to move one of them to allow Wallstedt to take over, or at the very least run in tandem with the other.

Providing Guerin with a worthy package won’t be easy either, though he’s reportedly seeking a top-six center, and with Elias Pettersson’s name continuing to swirl in trade rumors, there could be a foundation for another major deal between the Canucks and Wild before the deadline or this summer.

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