Jesper Wallstedt Feels Ready for Wild Backup Role

That's Wild

• Jesper Wallstedt is really in a do-or-die season. Now essentially handed the backup role, to support Filip Gustavsson, even after some disappointing seasons in the AHL, the young Minnesota Wild goalie is up for the challenge. In speaking with the media, Wallstedt revealed that ultimately, he feels very ready for the season ahead. [Pioneer Press]
• Now that the best player in Wild history has been signed to stay in Minnesota, general manager Bill Guerin is facing a different kind of pressure. Pen is put to paper, but now the challenge of building a team around said player that can bring the Stanley Cup to the State of Hockey, is here. [Hockey Wilderness]
• What should the Wild do to optimize their second line? Scoring depth is important after all. [Hockey Wilderness]

Off the trail...

• In the past, it was almost set in stone what contracts looked like for NHL players. ELCs turn into bridge deals, which turn into lengthy contracts that take them into their early-to-mid 30s and that was that. Maybe there would be some excitement somewhere in there. But now, with the salary cap rising and more teams having more money to spend -- players should really just start to get creative with the kinds of contracts they're signing. [Sportsnet]
• Speaking of contracts, former Gopher and current Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe has signed a monster eight-year contract extension that starts the 2026-27 season at a sizeable $9-million AAV. Wowza. [TheScore]
• The top regression candidates for this NHL season. Which players who just had fantastic seasons, are going to see some dip in production? [ESPN]