Jesper Wallstedt

July 2021 – Wallstedt was selected in the first round, 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

December 2020 – Jesper Wallstedt is a name you’re going to want to remember. The Swedish netminder has long been on the radar as a top-flight prospect and he’s done nothing to dispel that notion early on in 2020-21. The 18-year-old recently posted his first-career SHL shutout when he stopped 22 shots in a 4-0 victory. That improved his record to 5-2-0 on the season to go along with a league-leading .933 save percentage and 1.66 goals-against-average. This upcoming 2021 draft class is a unique one. There are a handful of very talented defenders who will litter the top-10 selection. There is not one obvious elite forward talent. And then there’s Wallstedt. Just like the hype surrounding Yaroslav Askarov a year ago, we will have the same type of thing happing this year with Wallstedt. A likely top-10 talent, but will he go that early? My guess is he lands around the same spot as Askarov. Cam Robinson