For Jesper Wallstedt, this season may be the moment that finally decides his future in Minnesota.
The Swedish goalie has already pushed his way into the picture with the Wild, moving into the backup job last season and drawing Calder and Rookie All-Star team votes. He looked like a possible trade candidate at one point this offseason, but Minnesota’s goaltending situation appears to have kept him in the State of Hockey.
That leaves a simple question hanging over the Wild: when does Wallstedt become the guy?
Minnesota drafted Wallstedt 20th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first goaltender the franchise had ever taken in the first round. The Wild viewed him as a more polished prospect than most, since he had already played pro hockey in Sweden before the draft.
He stayed there after being selected, then made his NHL debut with three starts in the 2023-24 season. He finished with a winning record, but his numbers were rough - a 3.01 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage.
His role grew from there. Wallstedt got two starts in the 2024-25 season, then really settled in during the 2025-26 campaign after Marc-Andre Fleury retired.
He appeared in 35 games as Filip Gustavsson’s backup and put together an 18-9-6 record with four shutouts. Then, through five games in November, he helped Minnesota steady itself by going 5-0-0.
When the playoffs arrived, the Wild leaned heavily on him, giving Wallstedt all but one of the starts. The message from that stretch was hard to miss: he looks ready for more, even if the full-time job has not opened up yet.
That opening may be here now. Minnesota signed Gustavsson to a five-year deal in 2025, which seemed to make Wallstedt’s path more complicated.
But the Wild then announced heading into the offseason that Gustavsson would undergo hip surgery, and the return timeline was not clear. Early in September, Michael Russo of The Athletic reported that the timetable remained uncertain.
That uncertainty changes everything in net. Some goaltenders come back well from hip surgery; others do not.
For Minnesota, it creates real questions. For Wallstedt, it creates a real chance.
The alternatives are not exactly overwhelming. Calvin Pickard is also on the roster, but he has not held a clear starting role since his 2016-17 season in Colorado, when he started 50 games. Last season with the Edmonton Oilers, he posted a 3.68 goals-against average and a .871 save percentage in 16 games.
So the door is open, and it is open wide. Wallstedt has already been part of trade talk, and he is set to become a restricted free agent in 2027. If he wants the next deal to be a big one, or if he wants to convince Minnesota he belongs as the long-term starter, this is the time to make that case.
In Other News...
Former Wild Prospect's Next Move Says Plenty About Minnesota's Pipeline
Graeme Clarkes next stop is Sweden, where the former Wild prospect has signed a one-year contract with Frlunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League through the 2026-27 season. Clarke spent time in the AHL and had a brief NHL look with the New Jersey Devils, and his path also ran through both the Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals organizations before this move overseas.
For Minnesota, its another small reminder of how quickly pipeline stories can take shape and shift once a player is on the margins of the NHL picture. Clarke was known for his offensive skill and versatility as a forward, traits that kept him in the conversation as he moved through different systems, and his latest landing spot suggests there is still a market for that profile even if the road back to North America remains unwritten. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Suddenly Face A Goalie Question That Could Change Everything
Jesper Wallstedts rise has already changed the tone in Minnesotas crease, and now the Wild are staring at a different kind of uncertainty with Filip Gustavsson. After last season pushed Gustavsson into a lesser role, he is now recovering from hip surgery and may not be ready for the start of the upcoming season, which puts even more attention on where the depth chart is headed and how the team wants to manage its two goalies going forward.
Gustavsson still gives the Wild several possible paths, but none of them feels settled yet. He could work his way back and reclaim form, he could settle in behind Wallstedt as a backup, or his situation could eventually lead the front office to consider a trade, depending on how his recovery unfolds. For a team that thought it had clarity in net, the questions around Gustavsson have suddenly made the position one of the more intriguing storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesota Hockey Ties Just Gave Wild Fans A Hall Of Fame Reason To Care
USA Hockeys announcement of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026 gives Minnesota hockey fans a familiar set of names to watch, with Amanda Kessel, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Ryan Suter and Stan Wong all set to be honored. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 30 in Washington, D.C., and it will be held alongside the NHLs Lester Patrick Trophy presentation, keeping the focus on a group whose careers have left a broad mark on the American game.
For Wild fans, the Minnesota angle is easy to spot. Oshie and Suter both have strong ties to the state, which adds a local layer to a Hall of Fame class already loaded with recognizable NHL connections. It is the kind of announcement that lands a little differently in Minnesota, where the sports history is never far from the present and where a ceremony like this will draw attention well beyond the national stage. [Read more 🡒]