Wallstedt was sent down to the Iowa Wild (AHL) on Thursday for salary cap implications but is expected to fight for playing time in Minnesota this season. Wallstedt was the 20th overall pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in Iowa (AHL), posting a solid 2.70 GAA and .910 SV% in 45 games (22-19-4).
With Kevin Rooney (concussion) placed on Injured Reserve, Kirkland gets the opportunity to make his Flames debut. The 28-year-old Kirkland spent most of last season in the AHL, tallying 30 points (8G / 22A) in 43 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.
Hunt was the 65th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut last season, playing 12 games, but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, tallying 29 points (3G / 26A) in 51 games for the Iowa Wild.
Wallstedt is expected to fight for playing time in Minnesota this season but has been sent down to Iowa (AHL) for salary cap reasons ahead of their season opener on Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Wallstedt was the 20th overall pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in Iowa (AHL), posting a solid 2.70 GAA and .910 SV% in 45 games (22-19-4).
There is some uncertainty in Minnesota's crease this season with veteran Marc-Andre Fleury and rookie Jesper Wallstedt in the mix, but the club will turn to Gustavsson for their season opener on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 26-year-old Gustavsson showcased a winning pedigree in the 2022-23 season when he posted a remarkable 2.10 GAA and .931 SV% in 39 appearances (22-9-7), before posting a forgetful 3.06 GAA and .899 SV% in 45 2023-24 appearances (20-18-4). If Gustavsson is unable to revert to the talent he displayed two years ago, there will be two eager netminders waiting on deck to steal starts.
Boldy didn't play in Minnesota's preseason finale due to a lower-body injury, but he has been practicing and appears on track to be ready for the season opener. Boldy, who had 29 goals and 40 assists last season, is expected to open the season on a line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson.
Minnesota may be riding three netminders this season between Wallstedt, Filip Gustavsson, and Marc-Andre Fleury, but showed their faith in Wallstedt being their goalie of the future with a two-year contract extension. Wallstedt was the 20th overall pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in Iowa (AHL), posting a solid 2.70 GAA and .910 SV% in 45 games (22-19-4).
Boldy won't play in Friday's preseason finale, but he has been practicing and appears on-track to be ready for the season opener. Boldy, who had 29 goals and 40 assists last season, is expected to open the season on a line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson.
Boldy suffered a lower-body injury on Monday but head coach John Hynes said that it's not a major injury and Boldy should be back by the end of camp. As of right now, the Wild are expecting Boldy to be in the opening night lineup.
Faber had an outstanding rookie season, scoring eight goals with 39 assists (47 points) while leading all rookies in ice-time (24:58 ATOI) in 82 games. The soon-to-be 22-year-old defenseman finished second in Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) voting behind Connor Bedard. Faber's new $8.5M AAV cap hit will not kick in until the 2025-26 season.
Shaw had spent the first three seasons of his career in Minnesota but will be taking his talents to Winnipeg after the forward signed a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday. The 25-year-old was Minnesota's 2017 4th-round pick (97th overall) and had only a goal, three points and 21 PIMs in 20 games with the Wild in 2023-24.
Brink broke into the NHL finally in 2023-24 after two full seasons in the AHL and has earned himself a two-year, $3 million contract extension ($1,500,000 AAV). The 22-year-old right-winger was Phildaelphia's 2019 2nd-round pick (34th overall) and had 11 goals, 23 points, 81 SOG and 10 PIMs in 57 games in 2023-24.
Gambrell spent the entire 2024 season with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), scoring 14 goals with 22 assists (36 points) in 66 games. Gambrell provides the Blue Jackets with some organizational centre depth but will likely start the year in the AHL. The 27-year-old has plenty of NHL experience, playing 233 career games for the Sharks and Senators.
Trenin will get a big pay upgrade as he signed a four-year, $14 million contract ($3,500,000 AAV) to join the Minnesota Wild on Monday. The 27-year-old bottom-six forward was acquired by Colorado at the trade deadline last season from Nashville and had 12 goals, 17 points and 40 PIMs in 76 games played in 2023-24.
Pickard started the 2023-24 season as Edmonton's third goaltender but worked his way into a backup role by mid-season and has earned himself a two-year, $2 million ($1,000,000 AAV) contract extension. The 32-year-old travelling netminder had not played more than 11 games since 2016-17 but put together a solid season in 2023-24 with his 12-7-1 record, 2.45 GAA and .909 SV%.
Kiersted spent the 2023-24 season with Charlotte (AHL) and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with Florida next season. The 26-year-old defensemen will provide the Panthers with some depth after putting up four goals and 15 points in 57 games with Charlotte last season.
Colorado is expected to announce the plan with Yakov Trenin ahead of Game 6 on Friday after their fourth-line forward left Game 5 due to an undisclosed injury after just 2:16 TOI. The 27-year-old was acquired at the trade deadline and has locked down his fourth line centre roll well with a goal, eight SOG and four PIMs in 10 games played in the playoffs.
Pickard excelled in his first career playoff start in Game 4 as he stopped 19 of 21 shots against (.905 SV%) and will start Game 5 in Vancouver after locking down the starter's net at morning skate. The 32-year-old appeared in his most games played (23) since 2016-17 in the regular season and had a solid 12-7-1 record, 2.45 GAA and .909 SV% while backing up Stuart Skinner all year. He will look to take a series lead on Thursday as Edmonton heads to Vancouver for Game 5.
