Minnesota is set to keep top prospects Liam Ohgren and Jesper Wallstedt on their roster for the opening night, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic.
The Wild have been eyeing both players since training camp began, and they’re not shying away from putting Wallstedt, possibly the league’s best goalie prospect, into a three-man rotation with Marc-Andre Fleury and Filip Gustavsson. During preseason games, all three goalies played twice each. Wallstedt impressed with a .930 save percentage, while Fleury had .925 and Gustavsson .898. Last season, Fleury and Gustavsson shared starting duties but neither shined brightly as both had save percentages below .900—a first for Fleury since his rookie year in 2005-06. Fans might be excited about what Wallstedt can bring to Minnesota’s goaltending team after his strong AHL performances with 40 wins and a .909 save percentage over two seasons.
Prospects’ Potential Impact:
Ohgren seems to have an easier path to securing an NHL position after playing five preseason games on the third line. He looked at ease there, scoring one goal and assisting another—matching his stats from four NHL games at last season’s end. An upper-body injury delayed Ohgren’s start in the 2023-24 season until late November; however, he quickly found his rhythm upon returning. He racked up 19 points in 27 SHL games in Sweden—the best scoring pace among U20 players last season. Bill Guerin has praised Ohgren’s ability to contribute from any lineup spot which might help him rise quickly if he stays healthy throughout the season.
Both Ohgren and Wallstedt seem ready to make significant contributions to Minnesota’s lineup—a much-needed boost for a team that struggled with scoring goals and defending them last year. Fans believe these young talents could turn things around this time.
As we look forward to seeing how these prospects perform on the big stage, do you think they’ll make a splash?
