The Minnesota Wild announced that they have awarded a two-year contract extension to Swedish goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, worth an annual value of $2.2 million. This agreement, which will take effect in 2025-2026, will ensure the presence of the 6-foot-3-inch cerberus in the Midwest state until 2026-2027.
Wallstedt, selected in the first round in 2021 at 20th overall by the Saint Paul franchise, has had the opportunity to participate in three career games in the National Hockey League (NHL). The goaltender was 2-1-0, with a 3.02 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage.
Since his arrival in North America, with the exception of his three appearances in the Bettman circuit, the Wild protégé has played with the Iowa-based farm club. In 83 games in the American League (AHL), Wallstedt collected 40 victories, posting a goals against average of 2.69 as well as an efficiency percentage of .909.
Considered one of the best prospects in net across the NHL, the 21-year-old athlete has been slow to join the big club, in part due to the presence of Filip Gustavsson and Marc-André Fleury who occupy the goaltending roles holders.
The Västerås native is entering the final year of his three-year entry-level contract, which pays him $925,000 per season.
