Wild take a goalie and a defenseman in 1st round of NHL Draft

The Minnesota Wild moved up in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft and selected Swedish goaltender Jesper Wallstedt with the 20th overall pick.

The Wild moved up two spots to take the 18-year old goalie. They traded the 22nd pick in the first round and a third round pick, 90th overall, to the Edmonton Oilers.

“Jesper is a strong technical goaltender,” said Judd Brackett, Minnesota Wild Director of Amateur Scouting. “He is very mature, calm and well-seasoned.”

It’s the first time the Wild have selected a goalie in the first round of the draft.

The Wild also had the 26th overall pick in the first round and that’s where they selected 18-year old defenseman Carson Lambos. He played for Winnipeg in the WHL last year.

Minnesota currently owns six selections in rounds 2-7 in the 2021 NHL Draft, which starts Saturday at 10 a.m.