The Minnesota Wild are heading to the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, but they’re doing so with a shaky center unit.
The thorn in the Wild’s side the past couple of years has been the center position. The depth hasn’t been there, and they had to ship Marco Rossi away in the Quinn Hughes trade. That has left them with Ryan Hartman, Joel Eriksson Ek, Nico Sturm, Danila Yurov, and the recently acquired Michael McCarron as their main options.
It’s a fine regular season unit, but it’s hard to imagine it pays off in the playoffs. Ryan Hartman is fine, but he isn’t a true center. Eriksson Ek is the Wild’s best center, and a good player, but you need more than just him. Yurov has promise but is simply just young and inexperienced. McCarron doesn’t move the needle too much.
That brings us to Nico Sturm, whom was the subject of a concerning conversation on The Athletic.
Nico Sturm Named Most Disappointing Minnesota Wild Player in 2026
GettyST PAUL, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 11: Nico Sturm #78 of the Minnesota Wild reacts after the Wild scored in the third period against the Dallas Stars at Grand Casino Arena on December 11, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)
Michael Russo of The Athletic recently named every NHL team’s MVP and most disappointing player. Obviously, Sturm was no MVP.
“Fair or not, the free-agent pickup injured his back on Day 1 of camp and missed the first 22 games. Sturm filled his role — killing penalties and winning faceoffs, but nevertheless, the Wild weren’t overjoyed and spent a second-round pick on Michael McCarron. Now Sturm’s an every-night extra.”
Sturm signed a 2-year/$4 million contract with the Wild in July of 2025. Thankfully, he’s not that expensive, but there is still play left to be desired. While he can kill a penalty and win a faceoff, he is not a true difference maker, and it was probably unfair for anyone to expect him to be.
Jesper Wallstedt May Get Game 1 Nod in Dallas
GettyST PAUL, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 21: Jesper Wallstedt #30 of the Minnesota Wild misses the save on a Colorado Avalanche goal in the first period of a game at Grand Casino Arena on December 21, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)
Michael Russo of The Athletic recently weighed in on the possibility of Wallstedt starting over Gustavsson in Game 1.
“Gustavsson is 2-3 in his past five starts, has given up four or more goals in four of those starts, and has a 4.08 goals-against average and .847 save percentage in that stretch. He’s also coming off that Thursday start in Dallas that essentially cost the Wild home-ice advantage in the first round — a game that saw him allow five goals on 20 shots and give up minus-3.11 goals saved above expected, according to Money Puck.
Wallstedt, on the other hand, is 3-3-2 in his past nine games (eight starts) since the Olympics with a 1.97 goals-against average and .927 save percentage. He has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his past eight starts.”
When you take all of the solid data to support the possibility of Wallstedt being the playoff starter, he has a real case. On the other hand, the Wild may view it safer as it can be fair to say Gustavsson has a lower floor with his playoff experience.
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