By Brendan Johnson -
On Saturday night, the Minnesota Wild lost to the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in overtime, which seems to me to be the proverbial “last nail in the coffin” of a tough season. According to NHL.com, the Wild have a 7.6 percent chance of making the postseason after that game. It Isn’t impossible, but it is doubtful.
Still, Minnesota’s season has had plenty of reasons for the fans to be proud and excited about looking toward the future.
Brock Faber is making the Kevin Fiala trade look like a bargain. Faber is a young, dependable defenseman who plays both ends of the rink with Cale Makar’s confidence. He displayed offensive skills rarely seen from a rookie, especially on the power play. Along with Kirill Kaprizov's progress, he was essentially trying to drag the Wild into the playoffs.
“Krill the Thrill'' didn't just awe fans with a lethal shot or mind-blowing moves that have almost become routine. He’s showing his authentic leadership, which this team desperately needs since they bought out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. He’s become the closest thing Minnesota has had to a bona fide superstar and face of the franchise since Marian Gaborik.
Kirill is vital to the franchise’s future, mainly to Minnesota’s development of a potential overtime-ending line. Last week, a reader called it the Russianov line with Marat Khusdinov at center, Danilia Yurov at right wing, Vladislav Firstov at left wing, and Kaprizov – the pilot of this lethal Russian MiG.
Those are two of the most important developments this season, but I have been watching and analyzing Jesper Wallstedt, another essential player critical to this club's future success. Wallstedt, 22, is a 6-foot-3, 214 lbs. Swede, who the Wild selected with the 20th pick in the 2021 draft. He has had another great year in Des Moines.
Analyzing the future Wild netminder was a privilege as I played the same position in high school while holding the utmost respect for all who assume the role. Wallstedt has competed in 42 games this season, posting a 2.65 goals against average and a .912 save percentage with a 21-18-3 record while posting 2 shutouts. He’s also playing on a lousy team. Zane McIntyre has been Iowa’s other primary netminder – Hunter Jones has played 1 game and Peyton Jones 2 – and Iowa is 3-16-3 when Jesper isn’t in goal.
Wallstedt is a big-bodied young man potentially developing into a top-10 goalie. He’s confident in the net, not allowing himself to get shaken up when opposing shooters beat him. He stays back on the net, telling me a couple of things about what's happening in his head. First, he is confident in his quickness. The speed of the game magnifies the adjustment between each level.
A goalie who comes out of their crease cuts down the angle on the puck carrier, trying to pressure the shooter while appearing to cover most of the net. Wallstedt’s big frame and explosive quickness allow him to be as effective as he has been in the last two seasons. He has the confidence of a player who is comfortable with his progress.
Wallstedt plays the position knowing and trusting his body and abilities. That’s why opponents seldom beat him on the first opportunity. He tracks and reads plays like he’s been playing at this level for over 80 games. Since joining Iowa, Wallstedt has posted a 2.67 goals against average, a .908 save percentage, and a 38-33 record with 3 shutouts (while on an absolutely awful team).
People have asked me why the Wild didn’t call Wallstedt up this season. The Wild could have made the playoffs with him in net. Marc-Andre Fleury is 49-30 with a 2.84 GAA and a .905 Save% since Minnesota acquired him, plus his name is already on the Stanley Cup multiple times.
However, knocking a player's confidence down quicker than you can build it up is easier. Remember that the physical aspect of being an athlete at this level is the easier part. But most players lack the mental aspect. Many players reach the highest level in their careers if they have the will, dedication, and support. At a certain point, performing while staying healthy and happy at a high level becomes more of a mental game.
It’s the difference between being fast and knowing you’re fast. It's tough to be a goaltender. We can be the most crucial variable in a game or series, the determining factor in the outcome. It's hard to win a game if you can't score a goal. Jesper possesses that ability.
While Fleury's future is uncertain, we should hope he mentors Wallstedt. If he could shoulder 20 to 30% of the starts next season while mentoring, it would help enormously to make the jump to the NHL next season. Fans should be excited about Wallstedt and his future with the organization because he is a winner. How can I be so sure? He hasn’t had a losing record since he was 14 years old. He still posted a 2.33 GAA with a .925 Save% during that year.
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