Although it seemed like Jesper Wallstedt might be traded from Minnesota this off-season, the team's goaltending situation seems to have kept him in the State of Hockey. The Swedish goaltender made his mark last season, jumping up to the backup role and earning Calder and Rookie All-Star team votes.
Now that he's made his mark on the team, when will he move into the true starting position? It could be as soon as this season.
Growing into the role
When the Minnesota Wild drafted Jesper Wallstedt 20th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, it was the first time they'd drafted a goaltender in the first round. Having played pro hockey in Sweden before the NHL Draft, the Wild felt like they were getting an already experienced goaltender in Wallstedt. He remained in Sweden after being drafted and made his NHL debut with three starts in the 2023-24 season, where he held a winning record but subpar stats in goals against (3.01) and save percentage (0.897).
He earned two starts in the 2024-25 season but really found his footing in the 2025-26 season when Marc-Andre Fleury retired. Wallstedt saw 35 games last season as Filip Gustavsson's backup, posting a winning record of 18-9-6 with four shutouts. Through five games in November, Wallstedt helped the team turn their season around, going 5-0-0.
The Wild turned to Wallstedt for the majority of playoff games last season, giving him all but one of the starts. It's clear that he's ready for the starting role, he just hasn't had the opportunity yet.
The Wild's goaltending situation has to lead them to contention
The biggest reason for Wallstedt to step into the starter role this season is the opportunity that he has. Having spent his career backing up more senior goaltenders in Gustavsson or Fleury, Wallstedt hasn't had the full chance to step into his place as the top goaltender. With the team signing Gustavsson to a five-year deal in 2025, it looked like Wallstedt would have to wait even longer for his shot.
However, the Minnesota Wild announced heading into the off-season that Gustavsson would undergo hip surgery, and the timetable for his return wasn't clear. Early in September, Michael Russo of The Athletic said that his return timeline is still unclear. Some goaltenders have recovered well from hip surgery, but some haven't. For the Wild, this leaves some big questions in goal, but for Wallstedt, this is his best chance to become the go-to goaltender in Minnesota.
Wallstedt has greatly impressed in Minnesota and would surely be the one to step up in Gustavsson's absence. The Wild also have Calvin Pickard on the roster. Pickard hasn't played a clear starting role on a team since he played for Colorado in the 2016-17 season when he started 50 games. In his 16 games with the Edmonton Oilers last season, Picard posted a 3.68 goals-against average and 0.871 save percentage. He is not starter material.
While he has the chance to lead the team in goal, Wallstedt should do his best to take advantage of this opportunity. His name came up a lot in trade talks last season, and he will be a restricted free agent in 2027. Now is the time to prove himself and get a big raise in 2027, or make himself the best possible candidate to be in the starting role for another team.
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