Filip Gustavsson Speaks Out About Future With Wild as Pending UFA

Filip Gustavsson open to staying in Minnesota on extension

The Minnesota Wild got an important piece of business done last week with the signing of restricted free agent Marco Rossi after a summer-long stalemate. And they're still working on an extension with pending UFA, superstar Kirill Kaprizov. But another key player is also set for unrestricted free agency after the coming season, in goaltender Filip Gustavsson.

The No. 1 goalie spoke with Wild insider Michael Russo of The Athletic, and revealed that he is open to contract talks.

For the past three years, I’ve enjoyed playing there. My family loves living there, and it’s been great to me.
They haven’t started actively talking to Billy (GM Bill Guerin) or anything. When they want to talk, then we talk, and otherwise I have this year left and I’m just gonna play and win.

What could Filip Gustavsson earn on a new contract?

Finishing off a three-year deal with a $3.75 million AAV, Gustavsson is due for a big raise, certainly based on the going rate for good No. 1 goalies these days. AFP Analytics projects him to be able to land a six-year deal worth $7.2 million annually.

The 27-year-old posted a career-best .914 save percentage last season, with a 2.56 goals against average and five shutouts, while finishing sixth in the balloting for the Vezina Trophy. And not that it'll impact contract talks in any way, but he even contributed on the other end of the ice as well:

FILIP GUSTAVSSON GOALIE GOAL, THIS IS NOT A DRILL‼️ 🚨 pic.twitter.com/z05VMqtvnv
— ESPN (@espn) October 16, 2024

But one year after reportedly gauging the trade market for him after an underwhelming 2023-24 season, would the Wild want to shell out north of $7M a year long term on the netminder? They are, at this early stage, currently projected to have $39 million available under the cap for 2026-27, but that quickly dips to $24M or so after the expected (hoped for) Kaprizov extension.

It's likely that Guerin will continue to work away at getting a deal done with Kirill The Thrill as his first priority, but talks will get started with Gustavsson shortly as well.