Minnesota Wild secures its star goalie Filip Gustavsson with a multi-million dollar extension
The Minnesota Wild have secured the continuity of their starting goaltender, Filip Gustavsson, with a five-year, $34 million contract, as announced by General Manager Bill Guerin this Saturday. This significant signing adds to the recent renewal of the outstanding winger Kirill Kaprizov, who signed a record-breaking eight-year, $136 million deal last Tuesday.
Gustavsson, 27, was in the final year of his contract, which earned him $3.75 million annually. The Swedish goalkeeper established himself as one of the most reliable starters in the NHL last season, participating in a personal record of 58 games. His performance included a 31-19-6 record, with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage, which earned him sixth place in the Vezina Trophy voting, with two votes for third place.
Gustavsson, selected in the second round of the 2016 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, began his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators. In 2022, he was traded to Minnesota in exchange for veteran Cam Talbot. Initially, he shared the goal with Marc-Andre Fleury before becoming the undisputed starter for the Wild.
With Fleury’s retirement this summer, Jesper Wallstedt, selected in the first round of 2021, is shaping up to be Gustavsson’s backup for next season.
This extension allows the Wild to secure most of their key players under 30 years old with multi-year contracts, including Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Brock Faber. Minnesota also has several players with entry-level contracts who are expected to contribute significantly this season, such as Liam Ohgren, David Jiricek, and Zeev Buium.
The Gustavsson agreement comes at a time when the NHL goaltending market is considered by many to be limited.
Minnesota finished fourth in the Central Division last season, which once again shapes up to be the most competitive in the NHL. The Wild are looking to bounce back after their first-round elimination against the Vegas Golden Knights last year.
