Article: There's A Lot Riding On Jesper Wallstedt's Bounceback Season

[Tony Abbott]

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[Pewterschmidt]

Wall-E's season's success/failure is the biggest Wild wildcard no one is talking about.

[Citizen Strife]

Gus earned the benefit of the doubt after a terrific rebound last season.  Wallstedt has to prove he can play in front of a capable defensive corps, or be damned.  Goalies are volatile yes, but Gus is playing for $6-8m.  He's gonna get it unless both he and Wallstedt shit the bed.  Of the two, I'm riding the Gus Bus until Wall proves otherwise.

[Scalptrash]

Does anyone feel really good about Wallstedt? I certainly don't. He either isn't that good or kind of a head case. If he is going to make it in the NHL, he should be dominating in the AHL. I'm not that impressed by a .908 and .910 save percentage in the AHL, even when he was playing well. He's been touted for years that he was essentially the second coming and I'm just not seeing it. Look out for Jiricek too.

[MNCountryLife]

Good article.  Brodin, Spurge, Faber and Mids do a very good job at keeping the shots to the outside.  But with no Brodin out and possible newcomers Jiricek, Lambos and Buium we may not be as nice to goalies as we have been the last few years.  This could affect both Wall and Gus.  

Edited 3 hours ago by MNCountryLife

[Kato AK]

I think Wallstedt himself has admitted that he has struggled with confidence/the mental side of the game the last couple seasons, but he have to remember the goalies tend to take longer to develop and he is only 22. 

I would like to see Sam Hlavaj get a game or 2 with the big club. He has been playing as good or better than Jesper in the AHL and his play in international games for Slovakia is pretty damn impressive. The org may not need to put as much pressure on Jesper when there are other options.

[SkolWild73]

Here is a nice article about Wallstedt where he talks about his confidence and next season.

Wild’s Jesper Wallstedt hoping to put difficult season behind him

[Pewterschmidt]

2 hours ago, Scalptrash said:

Look out for Jiricek too.

I Jiri looks like Midsy light next year it'll be a monumental clang off the upright for Guerin (and Brackett), considering the Fletcherian draft haul he gave up.  Mainly Guerin b/c he's the one who had a stiffy for Jiri. And at his age it's time for Jiri to start showing REAL potential.  Nevermind the bigger guys need more time blather...not when you forfeit a couple drafts to get the guy. Remember when we made fun of Fenton for his idiotic moves??  Pepperidge Farm remembers.

[Pewterschmidt]

20 minutes ago, Kato AK said:

admitted that he has struggled with confidence/the mental side of the game the last couple seasons

The optimist in me is assuming Wall-E learned and grew a ton in the mental discipline department and the Wild will be the beneficiary....not the 3rd team he's playing for when he's 28 and it finally clicks for him.

#Dubnyk

[Pewterschmidt]

23 minutes ago, Kato AK said:

Hlavaj

Everyone likes vaj

[TCMooch]

14 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I Jiri looks like Midsy light next year it'll be a monumental clang off the upright for Guerin (and Brackett), considering the Fletcherian draft haul he gave up.  Mainly Guerin b/c he's the one who had a stiffy for Jiri. And at his age it's time for Jiri to start showing REAL potential.  Nevermind the bigger guys need more time blather...not when you forfeit a couple drafts to get the guy. Remember when we made fun of Fenton for his idiotic moves??  Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Get ready to hear the clank because Jiricek is looking like his ceiling is 5th/6th defender on 3rd pairing. I don’t believe he’s going to be capable or successful as a top 4 defender 

[SkolWild73]

2 minutes ago, TCMooch said:

Get ready to hear the clank because Jiricek is looking like his ceiling is 5th/6th defender on 3rd pairing. I don’t believe he’s going to be capable or successful as a top 4 defender 

What have you seen that makes you think this?  He is still only 21 years old, and we only saw him in 6 games last year.  I look at a guy like Harley from Dallas.  He played in the A at 19, split time at 20, played 66 games in the A at 21 before finally breaking out in 2023/24 at the age of 22.  Pretty much same thing Jiricek has done in his career so far.  I am not expecting the same type of breakout year that Harley had for Jiricek this year (15G, 32A and a +28), but not ready to say his ceiling is 5th/6th defender yet.