‘i Love Where My Game Is At’: Jesper Wallstedt Ready To Build Off Historic Rookie Season

Jesper Wallstedt doesn't sound like a goaltender lacking confidence entering his second full NHL season.

The Minnesota Wild open its 2026-27 season Thursday night against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena, and Wallstedt enters the year in a much different position than he did 12 months ago.

After putting together one of the best rookie seasons by a goaltender in franchise history, Wallstedt will be counted on heavily early in the season with Filip Gustavsson sidelined.

And Wallstedt likes where he's at.

"I'm happy I got here early," Wallstedt said during training camp. "Got to spend a lot of time with Freddy and all the guys. Kind of made it my own little training camp, made it a little longer.

"Still played two exhibition games and feel like I'm in a great spot. I love where my game is at. So, just very excited, very pumped to finally start playing in some important games again."

The 23-year-old went 18-9-6 with a .916 save percentage and four shutouts last season. His 18 victories set a Wild franchise record for wins by a rookie goaltender in a single season.

Perhaps even more impressive was how Wallstedt performed against the NHL's better teams.

He posted a .931 save percentage against teams that qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the best mark in the NHL among goaltenders who appeared in at least 10 games against playoff teams.

Wallstedt also finished second in the NHL with a .916 save percentage overall and tied for third with four shutouts.

Now comes the next challenge.

Gustavsson will begin the season on injured reserve after undergoing hip surgery, leaving Wallstedt and veteran Calvin Pickard as Minnesota's two healthy NHL goaltenders to begin the year.

It means the Wild will need Wallstedt to carry a larger workload earlier than initially anticipated.

But unlike a year ago, when Wallstedt was still trying to establish himself as a full-time NHL goaltender, he enters this season with 18 wins and a full rookie campaign behind him.

He also had an extended runway into the season after arriving in Minnesota early and getting additional work before playing twice during the preseason.

For Wallstedt, the preseason was about getting himself ready for when the games actually mattered. Now they do.

Minnesota begins its season Thursday night in Nashville, kicking off an 84-game schedule and Wallstedt's second full season in the NHL.

And after what he accomplished as a rookie, the Wild may need his sophomore season to begin right where his first one ended.

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