Jesper Wallstedt, who once seemed too young to fit into McDavid’s timeline, is now the starting goalie for the Wild team that tallied 104 points.
That’s eleven points more than the Edmonton Oilers. This fact is really stinging for Oilers fans this Saturday.
The Oilers made two trades for goaltenders this season. Just two. They have been switching goalies behind a $14 million German center, while Wallstedt quietly achieved a . 915 save percentage and recorded four shutouts in 35 games for coach John Hynes.
Fans in Edmonton can’t stop debating about the decision to pick Wallstedt.
He has twelve wins, a salary cap hit of $2.2 million, and a spot ready for him in the playoffs. These stats are impressive for a 23-year-old goalie in the league today.
A tweet that upset Oilers fans on Saturday was short and critical. You can check it out yourself.
The argument that he took too long to develop is getting harder to defend now that the goalie is starting a playoff series before turning 24, while the team that passed on him is still struggling with their goalies.
This year, Minnesota had a record of 23 wins, 10 losses, and 8 ties at home. It’s a solid foundation for a first-round playoff series. Wallstedt earned this opportunity by consistently exceeding expectations.
Bill Guerin drafted him at the end of the first round in 2021 and never hesitated.
everyone knew Wallstedt was going to be elite man. Fuck Ken Holland and Tyler Wright https://t.co/DJnPG6oRMZ
— Shaedon (@Shae_Nuge93) April 18, 2026
This is the type of trust from management that Edmonton has had trouble finding in net for many years, often lacking patience for the long-term plan.
Now, the Oilers have to watch a young Swedish goalie they didn’t choose start in the playoffs, while their own goalie situation is a mess from two trades made during the season.
Will Wallstedt be the memorable goalie by Game 7? We will find out soon.
The hard reality for Edmonton is here, and every good beginning makes it clearer that the Oilers might have missed the chance at the lasting solution they have been looking for over many years.
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