Oilers GM Ken Holland passed on opportunity to acquire this elite goalie

With Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt getting called up to the NHL this weekend, it's interesting to look back on the decision the oilers made to trade down, and give up their chance at getting their goalie of the future.

Wallstedt was the Wild's 20th overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft, which belonged to the Edmonton Oilers before they traded down for picks #22 and #90. This was very odd at the time and still is, as Edmonton's main position of need has always been goaltending, followed by defence. Edmonton seems to refuse to draft and develop these needs however, as Holland seems to prefer to bring in guys with experience from free agency or through trades. With their new picks Edmonton selected forward Xavier Bourgault with #22, and defencemen Luca Munzenberger with #90.


You can only imagine what Edmonton would look like now if they addressed their biggest need, as Wallstedt is widely considered one of the best goalie prospects and has been tearing it up for the Iowa Wild. It sucks to see a player that you could have drafted be so successful, but it hurts even more when your GM consciously traded away the pick, thinking they wouldn't need the player.