Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced Saturday that the club has recalled Jesper Wallstedt from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL).
According to The Athletics’ Michael Russo, the call-up is to give Wallstedt NHL starts ahead of the Wilds’ five-game road trip that starts Sunday against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. Minnesota will then face Colorado, Vegas, San Jose and Los Angeles to round out the road trip before coming home to face the Seattle Kraken in the last game of the season.
The 2021 first-round pick has compiled a 21-19-3 record with a 2.76 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage and two shutouts in 43 games with Iowa this season. Wallstedt ranks third among AHL goaltenders leaguewide in games played and tied for 10th in wins. Wallstedt has been named AHL Player of the Week two times this season. He made his NHL debut against the Dallas Stars on Jan. 10 where he suffered a 7-2 loss.
Throughout his two-year pro career in the AHL, the Vasteras, Sweden product has compiled a 39-34-8 record with a 2.72 GAA, .908 SV% and three shutouts in 81 career AHL games with Iowa. Wallstedt earned AHL goaltender of the Month honors in January of 2023 and represented the Wild at the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic.
Internationally, Wallstedt has represented Sweden in multiple international tournaments, including the 2022 and 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships where he won a bronze medal in 2022.
Minnesota ranks sixth in the Central Division with a 36-30-9 record and 81 points through 75 games and sits three points back of the St. Louis Blues.
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