The Minnesota Wild and goalie Filip Gustavsson have reached a multi-year agreement, as announced by the team on Monday. The deal, which spans three years, comes with an average annual value of $3.75 million. It also includes a five-team no-trade clause that will take effect on July 1, 2025, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. This deal successfully avoids the need for an arbitration hearing that was originally scheduled for Friday.
Gustavsson put up impressive numbers last season, finishing with a record of 22-9-7. He boasted a 2.10 goals against average (GAA) and a .931 save percentage (SV%). The goalie’s outstanding performance led to this new contract, which marks a significant milestone in his career.
The new deal does pose a challenge for the Wild’s salary cap space heading into the upcoming season. Currently, the team has only $1.643 million in cap space available, including the $14.7 million they are carrying as dead cap space. The Wild are also still in negotiations with restricted free agent Calen Addison, who remains unsigned. Even if Addison accepts the qualifying offer of $787,500, the team will have limited flexibility for the upcoming season, particularly if they intend to carry a 13th forward.
For Gustavsson, this agreement represents a major accomplishment. Just a year ago, he doubted the possibility of playing professionally in Sweden for the remainder of his career. However, with an incredible season under his belt, Gustavsson has proven his worth and earned a well-deserved contract extension. All eyes will be on him next season to see if he can maintain his impressive performance, take on more responsibilities alongside Marc-Andre Fleury, and elevate his game during the playoffs.
The negotiations for Gustavsson’s contract were not without their challenges. With relatively limited NHL experience, having only started 60 games, Gustavsson’s case was complex. However, recent arbitration processes involving other goalies, such as Ilya Samsonov and Toronto, provided valuable comparables to facilitate the negotiations. It is believed that Gustavsson’s camp initially aimed high, considering his breakout season, while the Wild remained steadfast in their financial projections due to their tight salary cap situation.
Ultimately, a compromise was reached, resulting in a three-year deal that offers security for both parties. Gustavsson’s average annual value (AAV) sees a significant increase, reflecting his rising prominence. With Gustavsson set to be the Wild’s starting goaltender this season, Fleury will serve as his backup. However, this arrangement also allows for the development of highly regarded prospect Jesper Wallstedt, who completed his first year in the AHL. Should Gustavsson continue to excel and evolve into a star, the Wild will face a difficult decision but will also possess a valuable trade asset in the future.
For further analysis and insights into Filip Gustavsson’s new deal with the Wild, be sure to explore the “Four burning questions about Filip Gustavsson’s new deal with Wild” article, available for in-depth reading.
(Photo: Jerome Miron / USA Today)