Minnesota Wild's Jesper Wallstedt Should Be Considered The NHL's 2026-27 Vezina Trophy Front-Runner

It's still very early in the NHL season, and crowning anyone an award winner is unfair, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be early front-runners.

Right now, Minnesota Wild netminder Jesper Wallstedt should be considered the front-runner for the Vezina Trophy.

Wallstedt's play has been nothing short of spectacular this season. He leads the NHL in games played with 15, holds a 10-2-3 record, tied for the most wins, and has the sixth-best goals-against average (2.06) and sixth-best save percentage (.920). Of the goalies to post a better save percentage, only the Carolina Hurricanes' Pyotr Kochetkov has played more than 10 games.

The 23-year-old has attributed much of his success to the team's structure and defensive play, and while that likely plays a role, it's a modest mindset, and the stats show how great he has been.

According to moneypuck.com, Wallstedt has posted an NHL-best 12.1 goals saved above expected. The next closest is Montreal Canadiens’ Jacob Fowler at 9.8. Wallstedt also has the highest wins above replacement score at 2.02. 

These stats show not only that Wallstedt steps up when the Wild allow high-danger chances, but also how valuable he has been to the team. Without a doubt, the team wouldn't be where it is without Kirill Kaprizov's goal-scoring, Quinn Hughes' play-controlling dominance, or even Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy's two-way effect, but Wallstedt's control over the crease shouldn’t be understated.

This is Wallstedt's first real experience as the No. 1 goaltender. With Filip Gustavsson injured, the Wild's second option is Calvin Pickard. The team is leaning hard on Wallstedt, and he's delivering.

At this point of the season, Wallstedt isn't the runaway front-runner, but he should be leading the pack. Goaltenders such as Fowler, Kochetkov, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman, and Joel Hofer deserve recognition for their strong starts. 

The Wild are back in action this weekend with a back-to-back, starting on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, then playing on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Wallstedt and Pickard are expected to split the starts. 

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