With Filip Gustavsson sidelined, the Wild split preseason starts between veteran Calvin Pickard and top prospect Jesper Wallstedt to determine who will lead the crease this November.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild will get an extended look at both of their healthy NHL goaltenders during the preseason.
Wild head coach John Hynes said Thursday that Jesper Wallstedt and Calvin Pickard will each start two of Minnesota’s four preseason games.
The plan gives both goaltenders an equal opportunity to get game action before the regular season begins, but the circumstances surrounding Wallstedt make his four-game preseason particularly important.
Filip Gustavsson is expected to begin the season on injured reserve and remain out until November, leaving Wallstedt and Pickard as Minnesota’s goaltending tandem to open the year.
The Wild play the Chicago Blackhawks and the Dallas Stars twice each. Two at home and two on the road.
Wallstedt, 23, is expected to take on a significantly larger role while Gustavsson is unavailable. One of the Wild’s top young players, Wallstedt was the team's starting goaltender all playoffs, starting all but one game.
Now, Minnesota will get an early look at how prepared he is for an increased workload.
Pickard, meanwhile, gives the Wild an experienced veteran option alongside Wallstedt. Minnesota signed the 34-year-old during the offseason, providing the organization with additional NHL experience in net following Gustavsson’s injury.
Rather than heavily favoring one goaltender during the preseason, Hynes plans to give each two starts.
Minnesota's first game is on Saturday. No starter has been named yet.
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