G Jesper Wallstedt (2021, 20th, MIN)

[Kevin Musto]

Same here. I might have to switch allegiance.

I wish my team had Judd Brackett

 

[Devil made me do it]

Minny had the best draft imo. A steal to get this guy so late.

 

[flying v 604]

I wish my team had Judd Brackett

unless his role has changed he doesn't scout Europe or Canada. Besides this wasn't some smart out of the box pick that everyone else missed, the guy was ranked mostly in the top-half of the draft, he fell just like Rossi did for the last draft.
The most shocking aspect of it is the fact the oilers have no blue-chip goalie and their starter is 40. Plus like Knight he should have a rather short journey to the NHL which the oilers would have benefited from.

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

 

[MuckOG]

Interesting. I'd prefer he stay in the SHL for at least next season and face better competition.

 

[AKL]

Interesting. I'd prefer he stay in the SHL for at least next season and face better competition.

Maybe being closer to Wild player development will be good for him, and it seems like goaltending more than any other position is more about getting reps than anything, so he'll probably get more games and see more shots than in Sweden. This might also mean he plays for Iowa in 2022-23.

 

[Jumptheshark]

my guess he will be in the NHL before the guy the Oilers took with the pick they got

 

[theslatcher]

Interesting. I'd prefer he stay in the SHL for at least next season and face better competition.

After Luleå brought back Lassinanti on a multi-year deal he started getting next to no games. I would assume they would enter the next season witb those expectations.

I like this move if it happens, he'd get a ton of playing time, and you have to assume he'd go to the A after his season is over, then the timer until he's up in the NHL starts.

 

[MuckOG]

 

[UrbanImpact]

Oilers are going to regret passing up on Wallstadt.

He was a perfect fit... Best player available and Team positional need.

 

[rawraw]

Oilers are going to regret passing up on Wallstadt.

He was a perfect fit... Best player available and Team positional need.

I think the Oilers did the right thing drafting a forward with that pick.
Wallstedt would be at least 4-5 years away from making a real impact. Mcdavid is 24 now? So he'd be almost 30 by the time Wallstedt starts hitting his stride. They don't need a Wallstedt in order to win now, they need someone more proven and someone who can jump in now. The forward doesn't require as much time, he can help the team out faster than that and fills a need at the same time.

 

[MuckOG]

I think the Oilers did the right thing drafting a forward with that pick.
Wallstedt would be at least 4-5 years away from making a real impact. Mcdavid is 24 now? So he'd be almost 30 by the time Wallstedt starts hitting his stride. They don't need a Wallstedt in order to win now, they need someone more proven and someone who can jump in now. The forward doesn't require as much time, he can help the team out faster than that and fills a need at the same time.

I'm hearing it will be much sooner than that. More like 2-3 years away.

 

[AKL]

I'm hearing it will be much sooner than that. More like 2-3 years away.

That would be an incredibly tall order. One of his comps was Carter Hart, who's going on 23 now and is still pretty hit or miss. Certainly not leading his team to any Cups. Vasilevski, who is regarded as much better, was in his D+5 year before he became the full time starter in Tampa. It would be naive, at best, to expect Wallstedt to be an impact player in 2-3 years.

 

[Zaddy]

That would be an incredibly tall order. One of his comps was Carter Hart, who's going on 23 now and is still pretty hit or miss. Certainly not leading his team to any Cups. Vasilevski, who is regarded as much better, was in his D+5 year before he became the full time starter in Tampa. It would be naive, at best, to expect Wallstedt to be an impact player in 2-3 years.

Different times, and Hart was not at all the same level of prospect as Wallstedt. Spencer Knight would be a better comp as he's the most recently highly drafted goalie to play in the NHL. He already got games in his D+2 season and probably ends up as a starter next year in his D+3 season.

Wallstedt already played 24 games against men in one of the best leagues in the world this past season and did well. Would be very surprised if he's not an NHLer 3 years from now. Like Knight he might end up getting some games already in his D+2 season.

 

[Zaddy]

I think the Oilers did the right thing drafting a forward with that pick.
Wallstedt would be at least 4-5 years away from making a real impact. Mcdavid is 24 now? So he'd be almost 30 by the time Wallstedt starts hitting his stride. They don't need a Wallstedt in order to win now, they need someone more proven and someone who can jump in now. The forward doesn't require as much time, he can help the team out faster than that and fills a need at the same time.

There's no guarantee that Bourgault is any closer to the NHL than Wallstedt, in fact I'd say the opposite is true. And Bourgault is unlikely to even be much of an impact player regardless. Projects as a middle-six NHLer whereas Wallstedt could be an elite goalie and if nothing else should still be a legit starting goalie. Hell of a lot more valuable than a middle-six winger.

 

[Zaddy]

Also find it very suspicious that all of a sudden there's 'character concerns' about a player who has already been in the spotlight for 4 years. You'd think you'd have heard about those concerns a little earlier if that was indeed the case. I find it silly, if not outright disturbing, how people all of a sudden have started throwing out those type of accusations all willy-nilly nowadays.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Also find it very suspicious that all of a sudden there's 'character concerns' about a player who has already been in the spotlight for 4 years. You'd think you'd have heard about those concerns a little earlier if that was indeed the case. I find it silly, if not outright disturbing, how people all of a sudden have started throwing out those type of accusations all willy-nilly nowadays.

Godda make excuses as to why “my team” didn’t draft him.

 

[Bank Shot]

I'm hearing it will be much sooner than that. More like 2-3 years away.

Seems unlikely. I think Price, Hart, and Vasilevskiy are the only goalies in the last 15 years to step into the NHL 2-3 years after the draft.

Hopefully he does for Minny, but its a long shot IMO.

 

[57special]

Seems unlikely. I think Price, Hart, and Vasilevskiy are the only goalies in the last 15 years to step into the NHL 2-3 years after the draft.

Hopefully he does for Minny, but its a long shot IMO.

Knight was mentioned above. Games in his D+2, and looks to be challenging for the starter position in the upcoming season.

 

[AKL]

Different times, and Hart was not at all the same level of prospect as Wallstedt. Spencer Knight would be a better comp as he's the most recently highly drafted goalie to play in the NHL. He already got games in his D+2 season and probably ends up as a starter next year in his D+3 season.

Wallstedt already played 24 games against men in one of the best leagues in the world this past season and did well. Would be very surprised if he's not an NHLer 3 years from now. Like Knight he might end up getting some games already in his D+2 season.

Knight came to mind after I made the post. Would anyone be surprised if he faced some struggles this season and couldn't take the starter role? Vasilevski was the same I think, getting games in his D+2, but didn't become the full time starter for several years after that. So the jury is still out on Knight. And I do think it's possible Wallstedt gets games sooner rather than later, but as far as becoming an impact player, I'm not expecting it to be until 4-5 years. To me, being an impact player is much different than just getting games here.

 

[vildurson]

Edit. Too much nothing. Now with even more nothing.

Long life for future franchise goalie Wallsted!

 

[mratch19]

When Yzerman traded up I was certain he was taking Wallstedt.. Anyways, awesome pick by Minnesota, brilliant trade up. I have a feeling he brings Minnesota a cup. I was utterly shocked that Edmonton didn't take the goalie.. crazy decision there, imo, considering he's already playing pro hockey and could very well be NHL ready before Bourgault.

Both last year's cup finalists with first round drafted goalies and some teams still shy away, lol.

 

[MuckOG]

EDIT: He made 14 saves.

 

[WreckingCrew]

EDIT: He made 14 saves.

Looks like 14 shots IFB - LHF (0-9)

 

[Niten Ichi Ryu]

Minny had the best draft imo. A steal to get this guy so late.

A gift from Santa Holland