The Minnesota Wild got another crucial piece of business done on Saturday by inking starting netminder Filip Gustavsson to a five-year, $34 million contract. The deal, in short, is a steal, especially when looking at the current going rate for NHL starting goaltenders.
Other top-tier goalies are hovering in the $8 million to $10 million mark. Now, some may argue that Gustavsson is not an elite NHL starter. Perhaps there might be an argument there, considering Gustavsson hasn’t won a Vezina or a Stanley Cup.
Still, the 27-year-old has been solid for the Wild. The lack of playoff success isn’t necessarily a reflection of his lack of talent. It takes a complete team to win games.
Be that as it may, the Wild got a fantastic deal out of Gustavsson. Locking down their starting netminder for less than $7 million, with the salary cap ceiling going up in the next couple of seasons, has to be a huge win for the team.
The team-friendly deal is likely a response to the direction the club is headed. With the team extending Kirill Kaprizov, Gustavsson could feel much more confident about the Wild's path forward.
Gustavsson was scheduled to be a UFA next summer. The extension effectively ends that situation. Following Kaprizov’s extension earlier this week, the Wild have pretty much locked up all of their big-name UFAs. So, it seems that GM Bill Guerin can breathe a sigh of relief and potentially take a day off once the season begins.
Gustavsson cements himself as Wild starter
Filip Gustavsson had made strides to cement himself as the unquestioned starter for the Minnesota Wild. Since arriving in Minnesota ahead of the 2022-23 season, he has come a long way.
Initially, Gustavsson split duties with Marc-Andre Fleury. But as Fleury receded into a backup role, Gustavsson ran with the starting role.
Last season, the Swedish native appeared in 58 games, posting a 2.56 GAA and a .914 SV%. Those numbers were crucial in leading the Wild to a playoff appearance. They lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the opening round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Despite the first-round defeat, Gustavsson posted solid numbers. In the six-game series, he sported a 2.71 GAA and a .914 SV%.
This season, Gustavsson and the Wild hope to follow up their strong 2024-25 campaign with another playoff appearance. With their starting goalie firmly in place, getting there will be much easier.