Minnesota Wild goalie prospect Jesper Wallstedt has been molten hot this season, reinforcing the belief that the 21-year-old is NHL-ready

For the second time this season, Iowa's Jesper Wallstedt has been named the AHL Player of the Week. 

Wallstedt stopped 83 of the 86 shots he faced this past week, leading the Wild to two wins on the road and earning Player of the Week honors for the second time this season, previously winning for the week of October 30-November 5. 

Wallstedt took both starts during Iowa’s weekend visit to Colorado, beginning the trip by stopping 40 shots in the Wild’s 5-1 victory over the Eagles on Friday night. He came back on Saturday and made 43 saves, an AHL career high, as Iowa completed the sweep with a 3-2 decision. For the week, Wallstedt was 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .965 save percentage.

The 21-year-old Swede is coming off an 18-win campaign (in 38 games) in 2022-23 with the Iowa Wild, where he finished with a 2.68 GAA, .908 save percentage, and one shutout. 

Already in 2023-24 in 12 starts Wallstedt has put together a sparkling record of eight wins with a 2.03 GAA and .937 SP and two shutouts. 

In back-to-back 22-game seasons with the Lulea HF of the SweHL, the 20th overall draft pick of Minnesota in 2021 put up 2.23/.907 and 1.98/.917 with 12 wins per season and a combined five shutouts. 

Wallstedt has easily proven himself ready for his National Hockey League debut, the trick will be fitting the upstart into a cap-strapped roster featuring two proven NHL netminders.

The Wild are currently rolling with the tandem of sure-to-be Hall of Fame-bound Marc-Andre Fleury and the brilliant, yet streaky Filip Gustavsson. Both have had their moments, though have largely struggled through the first quarter of the season.

Flower, who through 10 games sits with a 3.21 GAA and .884, SP, is coming off a 28-save win against the Blackhawks. Gustavsson's numbers are equally sub-par, as The Bus has compiled a 3.46 GAA and .891 SP through 13 games, though he's coming off back-to-back wins and one-goal-against performances against the Blues and Predators. 

It will likely take an injury, massive decline, or trade of one of the aforementioned starters, but Jesper Wallstedt has little else to prove at the AHL level, showing fans and observers he is more than deserving of his spotlight in the NHL.