Prospect Info: At 20th Overall the Wild Select Jesper Wallstedt

[2Pair]

When your main objective is to be square to the shooter, that angle is the same no matter the sheet size. Only the distance of the shooter you're squaring to is changed, so if they're further out, as a goaltender you stay more to the outer area of the crease to shrink what they can see of the net. That fundamental doesn't change as the ice size changes.

Those distances are harder on the shooter than they are on the goaltender. The closer in players get, you get back to normal NHL distances for shooters... and they're the more dangerous shots, which the NA ice will just see more frequently.

There are differences yes, but minor and easier for a goaltender to adjust for than a skater.

This point makes sense if the shooter/puck never moves. Once you start moving the puck back and forth along the width of the rink, your point dies

 

[TaLoN]

yes but the angles you expose by squaring up the the shooter are completely different when youre playing on bigger ice.

They are, I agree, but that's more of a shooter adjustment, the goaltender, all he can do is stay square and track the puck.

This point makes sense if the shooter/puck never moves. Once you start moving the puck back and forth along the width of the rink, your point dies

That's where athleticism comes in more than anything. Though, again, the bigger ice keeping the puck in lower percentage areas more often helps both the defense and goaltenders more.

It's easier on bigger ice, more dangerous on smaller ice. I think we all agree on that.

 

[AKL]

This point makes sense if the shooter/puck never moves. Once you start moving the puck back and forth along the width of the rink, your point dies

Wouldn't this make it easier to adjust to a smaller rink, coming from a bigger one (as opposed to going from smaller to bigger)?

 

[MuckOG]

Wouldn't this make it easier to adjust to a smaller rink, coming from a bigger one (as opposed to going from smaller to bigger)?

I would think so....but there is still an adjustment. May not require him playing in Iowa for a full season, but I would think he would want to get at least a few starts in Iowa before making his NHL debut.

 

[GuerinUp]

Wouldn't this make it easier to adjust to a smaller rink, coming from a bigger one (as opposed to going from smaller to bigger)?

no because youre increasing the speed of these moves exponentially.

 

[AKL]

no because youre increasing the speed of these moves exponentially.

I mean there's also less space for forwards to use, which benefits the defense, which in turn benefits the goaltender, and there's less distance for a goaltender to cover. The puck moves faster than the goalie on both sizes, but there's a wider angle the goalie needs to be responsible for on the bigger ice.

The real difference would be the skill of the players at the NHL level compared to the SHL level. But that doesn't have anything to do with the ice size.

 

[TaLoN]

Wouldn't this make it easier to adjust to a smaller rink, coming from a bigger one (as opposed to going from smaller to bigger)?

Yes, the distance to to cover is smaller, but on smaller ice, the puck is in higher percentage areas more frequently, thus positioning is more important overall. Athleticism I think show more on smaller ice as well due to the quicker variation possibility from one side to the other because of closer distance and better accuracy at that distance. The bigger ice has the greater average distance of the shot or cross ice pass, which helps the goaltender because of lower accuracy, being less dangerous.

I mean there's also less space for forwards to use, which benefits the defense, which in turn benefits the goaltender, and there's less distance for a goaltender to cover. The puck moves faster than the goalie on both sizes, but there's a wider angle the goalie needs to be responsible for on the bigger ice.

The real difference would be the skill of the players at the NHL level compared to the SHL level. But that doesn't have anything to do with the ice size.

Exactly this. It's a MUCH easier transition for a goalie overall. Skaters, it changes their overall philosophy. Goaltenders, it just tightens everything and speeds things up.

 

[2Pair]

Wouldn't this make it easier to adjust to a smaller rink, coming from a bigger one (as opposed to going from smaller to bigger)?

The biggest problem going from Olympic to NHL is usually the speed with which everything happens. Guys get from the wall to the slot in 2 strides instead of 3.

 

[AKL]

The biggest problem going from Olympic to NHL is usually the speed with which everything happens. Guys get from the wall to the slot in 2 strides instead of 3.

That I can understand, but in theory, if you're watching a guy come off the wall into the slot, you should be square to him the whole time.

I can recognize that it's going to be a slightly different game than he's used to, I don't think adjusting is going to be that big of an issue, especially if he's half the prospect people say he is.

 

[TaLoN]

The biggest problem going from Olympic to NHL is usually the speed with which everything happens. Guys get from the wall to the slot in 2 strides instead of 3.

Agreed, but that's the same type of adjustment players in general make, going from lower levels to higher levels. NHL speed is unlike anything else.

It's not so much an ice size adjustment in that sense.

Skaters need to adjust to ice size, because the extra ice can change attack or defense philosophy so much. A defender is much less likely to be aggressive because the extra ice could get him walked easier, where as smaller ice helps the defender, allowing more aggressive play.

 

[GuerinUp]

Agreed, but that's the same type of adjustment players in general make, going from lower levels to higher levels. NHL speed is unlike anything else.

It's not so much an ice size adjustment in that sense.

Skaters need to adjust to ice size, because the extra ice can change attack or defense philosophy so much. A defender is much less likely to be aggressive because the extra ice could get him walked easier, where as smaller ice helps the defender, allowing more aggressive play.

it also decreases the time a cross crease takes by almost half as the puck never truly slows down. this is probably one of the huge things unless you have elite defending.

 

[2Pair]

That I can understand, but in theory, if you're watching a guy come off the wall into the slot, you should be square to him the whole time.

I can recognize that it's going to be a slightly different game than he's used to, I don't think adjusting is going to be that big of an issue, especially if he's half the prospect people say he is.

It won't be an issue past a handful of games.

 

[TaLoN]

it also decreases the time a cross crease takes by almost half as the puck never truly slows down. this is probably one of the huge things unless you have elite defending.

Agreed, which I mentioned in post 82, mentioning the closer distance in cross ice passes, making athleticism also more important on smaller ice.

If your positioning is good, you are very consistent in keeping square to the shooter, your game will already be solid on both ice sizes. Backstrom was proof positive on that for us for years.

Your team's defense can help cover for a lack of athleticism, as cross ice passes are tough against high quality defense... again, something that was proven with Backstrom, as he was never good moving laterally.

 

[Dog]

Minnesota did well in selecting him. Smart move to move up and get him. So far Wild have done quite well considering.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Wallstedt was 9th on our board

 

[Wasted Talent]

Not sure how credible the source is, but going from SHL to WHL feels like a step down. I suppose he'd get more consistent starts and become accustomed to smaller rink at least.

 

[Bazeek]

Not sure how credible the source is, but going from SHL to WHL feels like a step down. I suppose he'd get more consistent starts and become accustomed to smaller rink at least.

Going from the SHL to the WHL would be a massive step down. I think we'd still have the ability to send him to Iowa whenever because he wasn't drafted out of the CHL, but still...

 

[2Pair]

Not sure how credible the source is, but going from SHL to WHL feels like a step down. I suppose he'd get more consistent starts and become accustomed to smaller rink at least.

the quality of teams would certainly be worse, but he would probably see a ton more pucks. They play zero defense in the CHL

 

[Filip Karlsson]

The whole Portland situation is interesting. Swedish sources who've spoken to Wallstedts camp say the indication from Jesper & his agent is that Minnesota will make the decision on if he plays in the WHL next year or not.

Wallstedt was very good last year but in Luleå he's likely just a 1B next year so a move would at least mean more playing time.

 

[ThatGuy22]

The whole Portland situation is interesting. Swedish sources who've spoken to Wallstedts camp say the indication from Jesper & his agent is that Minnesota will make the decision on if he plays in the WHL next year or not.

Wallstedt was very good last year but in Luleå he's likely just a 1B next year so a move would at least mean more playing time.

Was there an injury this year? Why would he go from most starts to not most.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

The whole Portland situation is interesting. Swedish sources who've spoken to Wallstedts camp say the indication from Jesper & his agent is that Minnesota will make the decision on if he plays in the WHL next year or not.

Wallstedt was very good last year but in Luleå he's likely just a 1B next year so a move would at least mean more playing time.

Why would he be the 1B? The other goalie is a 5’9 goalie who put up similar numbers

 

[Minnewildsota]

Was there an injury this year? Why would he go from most starts to not most.

It sounds like they brought back (re-signed) a veteran. Last year(?) when that happened Jesper started getting barely any games. If this proves to be the case, this is a wise move instead of him facing albeit better competition but at a significantly reduced frequency.

IF he goes to the WHL this coming season, is he eligible to go to the AHL when the season is over? Are there rules that would prevent that? Or do the seasons coincide to closely?

Information was taken from: G Jesper Wallstedt - Luleå HF J20, SuperElit (2021, 20th, MIN)

 

[Bazeek]

It sounds like they brought back (re-signed) a veteran. Last year(?) when that happened Jesper started getting barely any gets. If this proves to be the case, this is a wise move instead of him facing albeit better competition but at a significantly reduced frequency.

IF he goes to the WHL this coming season, is he eligible to go to the AHL when the season is over? Are there rules that would prevent that? Or do the seasons coincide to closely?

Information was taken from: G Jesper Wallstedt - Luleå HF J20, SuperElit (2021, 20th, MIN)

I'm pretty sure you have to be drafted out of the CHL to be affected by the NHL-CHL transfer agreement, so it shouldn't stop him from playing in the AHL if that's where they want him.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I'm pretty sure you have to be drafted out of the CHL to be affected by the NHL-CHL transfer agreement, so it shouldn't stop him from playing in the AHL if that's where they want him.

He may have been drafted in the CHL. That doesn’t really matter though. He’s a 2002. He only has one more year that the AHL/CHL agreement effects him. After the CHL season ends, he can play in Iowa, and he can start in Iowa next year no matter what

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

The CHL would give me a bit of anxiety, personally. But, it would be an interesting route. If he get’s games in Iowa at the end of next season, and he’s the starter the season after, we could be talking about a situation where he’s called soon in a significant role for 2022-23. Similar to what Knight did down the stretch.