Jesper Wallstedt was drafted in the first round, 20th overall, by the Minnesota Wild in 2021. He was a highly touted prospect going into the draft and the Wild needed a long-term solution for their goalie of the future. Wallstedt fit the mold they were looking for and has been developing in Iowa at the Wild’s AHL affiliate.
Going into the season, Wild GM Bill Guerin and Head Coach John Hynes may decide to keep three goalies to start the year. Wallstedt has performed well in Iowa and looks to build on that success heading into Minnesota. Currently, the Wild has Filip Gustavsson and future Hall of Famer Marc-Andre Fleury in the room to help in his development. Let’s analyze Jesper Wallstedt’s fantasy value for this upcoming season.
Jesper Wallstedt’s 2023-2024 Statistics
Jesper Wallstedt spent most of last season with Iowa Wild, the AHL affiliate, to sharpen his skills and be ready when it’s time to take over the starting job. He played 45 games in Iowa finishing with a record of 22-19-4 and a .910 save percentage. He also achieved two shutouts during his stint with the Iowa Wild.
Wallstedt got called up to Minnesota in January to make his NHL debut and it did not go well. He let in seven goals in a loss to the Dallas Stars for his first career loss. Wallstedt would have another chance later in the season for a second start in the crease. He recorded his first career shutout against the Chicago Blackhawks making 24 saves in the win. In Wallstedt’s final start of the season, he would record another victory saving 27 of 29 shots against the San Jose Sharks for his second career win.
Jesper Wallstedt’s 2024-2025 Fantasy Outlook
Jesper Wallstedt has an intriguing season ahead of him in 2024-2025. There have been rumors about the Minnesota Wild possibly trading Filip Gustavsson which would open the door for more playing time for Wallstedt. Learning from a Hall of Fame goalie like Marc-Andre Fleury will do wonders for Wallstedt’s career but it all depends on how the Wild construct the final roster. If Wallstedt gets his chance, he could be in for a massive fantasy season.
ESPN projects Wallstedt to be the G23 off the board in fantasy drafts this season. Injuries are all a part of the game and if Gustavsson or Fleury goes down, Wallstedt will be a steal in the draft. He may even challenge the goalies if they struggle coming out of the gate. Look to grab Wallstedt in the late rounds to fill out the final goalie spot on your roster.
Final Thoughts
The future is bright for Jesper Wallstedt and the Minnesota Wild. The Wild believe they have their goalie of the future, and Wallstedt gets to be mentored by one of the best goalies of all time Marc-Andre Fleury. He has immense talent and could be on the verge of a breakout fantasy season if he gets the opportunity, he deserves.
It will be fascinating to monitor how the Minnesota Wild deploy the goaltending options this season with three quality options at their disposal. Wallstedt will need to be sharp when his name is called, and if he is on your roster, you will have a high-quality option to plug in for your fantasy team.
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