Goaltender Oilers passed on now emerging as star talent in NHL

With some inconsistency from Stuart Skinner this season and Calvin Pickard severely struggling, goaltending is once again a hot point of debate in Edmonton. It's times like these it'd be nice to have a prospect in the pipeline to the NHL, like Wallstedt.

In his 6th game of the season, the 23 year old Wallstedt shut out the Anaheim Ducks high flying offence with 28 saves. He's now undefeated in regulation with Minnesota, and solidifying his place as an NHL goalie.

Back in his draft year of 2021, Wallstedt was regarded as the top goalie prospect. The Oilers were in dire need of a goalie then too, and held the draft pick to select him, but traded down 2 places to select Xavier Bourgault.

Unpopular former scouting director Tyler Wright was behind the decision.

It was almost inexcusable at the time for the Oilers to pass on the top goalie prospect available, and they didn't make it any better with their pick.

Xavier Bourgault, now 22 years old, is still toiling away in the AHL - and has had a few years far below average.

Edmonton has since traded Bourgault to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Roby Jarventie, a promising prospect currently in the AHL. That was a good move, but the Oilers would surely still rather a high-end goalie prospect in the AHL instead.

There'll be some significant regret for not picking Wallstedt if he goes on to be a longtime starter in the NHL, and it looks like that may be the case. The Oilers will likely be looking elsewhere for some creative solutions to their goalie problems now.