Minnesota Wild fans can breathe a huge sigh of relief. The team has locked up both its superstar scorer and its rock-solid goalie for the long haul.
Just days before the new season kicks off, GM Bill Guerin pulled off another massive deal. After signing Kirill Kaprizov to a record-breaking $136 million contract earlier this week, he’s now secured goaltender Filip Gustavsson for the future.
That leaves just Vladimir Tarasenko and Mats Zuccarello as the only big names heading to free agency next summer.
Gustavsson’s journey with the Wild has been quite a rollercoaster. After an incredible 2022-23 season where he posted a stellar .931 save percentage, he hit some rough patches. His numbers dipped pretty significantly the following year, with an .899 save percentage that left fans worried.
But he bounced back in a big way.
Last season, the 27-year-old proved he’s the real deal. He started 58 games (tied for 7th in the NHL) and racked up 31 wins (tied for 6th). His .914 save percentage was good enough for 6th best in the league.
Perhaps most impressively, he carried the team to the playoffs despite several key players – including Kaprizov – missing significant time with injuries.
The timing of this deal is particularly interesting given what’s happening with the Wild’s goalie situation. Their top prospect, Jesper Wallstedt, is making the jump to the NHL this year as Gustavsson’s backup, following Marc-André Fleury’s retirement.
Originally, the team hoped Wallstedt would be ready to take over as their number one goalie by 2026. But things haven’t quite gone according to plan. The young goalie struggled in the minors last year, posting some pretty rough numbers in limited action.
That’s not to say Wallstedt can’t turn things around. He’s still the same talented prospect who dominated Sweden’s top league as a teenager and made two AHL All-Star teams.
For now, though, the Wild are betting big on Gustavsson. With their championship window wide open, they’re putting their faith in the guy who’s already proven he can handle the pressure.
