January 20, 2023 | 6:01pm ET
By Anthony Di Marco, TheFourthPeriod.com
WILD, GUSTAVSSON YET TO TALK CONTRACT
Filip Gustavsson, goaltender
The Minnesota Wild are expected to push all their chips in the middle this year ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. But before worrying about a deep playoff push, General Manager Bill Guerin did some house cleaning earlier in the week.
The Wild announced last Monday the seven-year, $49 million contract extension for left wing Matthew Boldy.
Boldly, 21, was drafted 12th overall by the Wild in 2019 and has become a mainstay in the NHL. He has hit the ground running with the Wild, tallying 28 goals and 69 points through 91 regular season games going back to last season.
With the Wild locking up more and more pieces for the future, it begs the question: what is the status of goaltender Filip Gustavsson?
Speaking with a source close to the club, I’ve been told the two sides have yet to engage in contract negotiations.
Gustavsson, 24, was acquired from the Ottawa Senators last summer in exchange for goaltender Cam Talbot. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins (dealt to Ottawa in a deal that saw Derick Brassard go the other way) in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft. He is scheduled to become a restricted free agent July 1.
After struggling to lock down an NHL job with the Senators, Gustavsson has had a remarkable season with the Wild – especially important given the struggles of fellow netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. Through 18 games this season, Gustavsson has a record of 11-6-1 along with a save percentage of .926. Per Moneypuck.com, Gustavsson has 0.699 Goals Saved Above Expected per 60, which ranks third among all goaltenders who have played at least five games.
The sample size of just 18 games is small with the Wild, but there is no doubt the stabilization Gustavsson has brought between the pipes. After overhauling their goaltending duo over the last 10 months, Gustavsson has given Guerin some long-term sustainability at the position, providing he maintains this level of play. What will be interesting is what his contract may look when/if the sides look to engage somewhere down the line.
Fleury, 38, is signed through the 2023-24 season and carries an AAV of $3.5 million; his deal also includes a full no-movement clause. Given the Wild’s cap constraints this summer – they’ll have just over $14.7 million in dead money due to the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter – there will be some obstacles. They project to have a little more than $9.33 million in salary cap space this summer.
The other aspect in all of this is goaltender Jesper Wallstedt and his long-term future with the Wild.
Wallstedt, 20, was drafted 20th overall by the Wild in 2021. After impressive play in the Swedish Hockey League last year, Wallstedt came over to North America for the 2022-23 campaign and has played solidly with the Iowa Wild of the AHL. Through 19 games this season, Wallstedt has a record of 9-7-3 to go along with a .910 SV%.
Given Wallstedt’s quick development and pedigree of being a first-round selection, I wonder if there is trepidation to go long-term with Gustavsson on the part of the Wild. If they go long-term, it will also likely come with a higher AAV – as is often the case when buying the UFA years of players coming out of entry-level contracts – which will complicate things in terms of the salary cap in the short term.
If I had to venture a guess, given the Wild’s cap situation and Wallstedt looming, Gustavsson will likely get a bridge deal instead of a lengthy extension.
But the more Gustavsson shines with stellar play, the higher the price may increase. For now, it seems the Wild are fine with taking their chances.
