Significant Update On Minnesota Wild Goaltending Situation

After losing his No. 1 standing in the Minnesota Wild net late this season, Filip Gustavsson is now facing another significant hurdle for 2026-27. It's been revealed that he will be undergoing hip surgery this week.

#mnwild goaltender Filip Gustavsson will undergo surgery on his hip this offseason— questionable if he’ll be ready for start of next year
— FOX 9 Sports (@Fox9Sports) May 18, 2026

GM Bill Geurin said at today's meeting with the media that he is unsure if Gustavsson will be ready for the start of next season.

The GM went on to add that it's a "wear and tear" thing, rather than a single incident that led to the injury.

The six-year veteran netminder had begun to be mentioned as a trade candidate, after rookie Jesper Wallstedt clearly became the No. 1 goalie for the Wild.

Wallstedt took over as the main man in the crease down the stretch and started 10 of the team's 11 playoff games.

As Michael Russo noted in The Athletic, Gustavsson "struggled dramatically down the stretch," and allowed four or more goals in five of his final six regular-season starts, with an .836 save percentage over that period.

We can assume that perhaps the hip injury might have had something to do with it.

But whether the 27-year-old comes back at full strength and in time for next season is up in the air at this point.

Why Gustavsson's surgery changes offseason plans for the Wild

It's quite the turn of events from back in early March, when it was Wallstedt who was hearing his name in trade rumors. But the thought of using the 23-year-old now as a big bargaining chip in a trade this offseason should be completely off the table for Guerin. He's looking for a top-line center, and one of his top goalies would have been a tremendous piece to try to get something done.

But with one of them coming off serious surgery and the other being indispensable at this point, he'll have to find another way.

Overall, Gustavsson finished the 2025-26 season with a .903 Sv% and 2.69 goals against average, while Wallstedt posted a .915 Sv% and 2.61 GAA.

Gustavsson is starting a brand new five-year deal next season, with a $6.8 million AAV, and holds a no-move clause. But as Friedman noted on The Fan Hockey Show, if he feels that he won't be the starter in Minnesota when he returns, "it's easier to get that no-move to be a little more flexible."