*Photo from the Hockey Writers*
The Gus Bus is getting driven for a few more years. Goalie Filip Gustavsson and the Minnesota Wild have agreed to a 3 year, $11.25 million contract, according to an announcement by the Wild on Monday.
Wild GM Bill Guerin said of the contract that "This is something we've been working on for a long time. Filip had a career year last year. He's well deserving of this contract, and we're very happy with it. I think both sides worked to find a common ground, and like I said, he had a career year last year. He's still a young goalie that can improve on what he's done, and can continue to get better. So as a team, we're happy to make this investment in him. It will be nice to watch Filip grow over the next few years."
After making $787,500 in each of the last two seasons, Gustavsson gets a hefty pay raise. His new contract has a $3.75 million AAV with no bonuses or trade protections included. He'll be a UFA at the end of the 2025-2026 season, when his contract expires.
Between the Ottawa Senators and the Wild, Gustavsson has played in parts of 3 NHL seasons. In that time, he has amassed a 32-22-10 record with 40 quality starts and 3 shutouts. He has authored a .920 save percentage and 2.50 GAA in 60 starts and 66 games. Gustavsson has a 2-3 record with a 2.33 GAA and .921 save percentage in 5 playoff games.
Last season was Gustavsson's first full NHL season, getting action in those 5 playoff games. He had a 22-9-7 record with 3 shutouts and 27 quality starts, recording a 2.10 ERA and .931 save percentage in 37 starts and 39 games.
Prior to last season, the Wild acquired Gustavsson from the Senators, with Cam Talbot going the other way to Ottawa. Originally a second round pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016, Gustavsson was traded to the Senators as part of the Derick Brassard trade.
Gustavsson said of his new contract that "I'm really happy to have three years instead of just having one year and having all the pressure on my shoulders again to really perform this year to get another contract. A three year contract feels like a little more pressure off my shoulders to know that I have a job for the next three years, and I'm so excited to do it with Minnesota again. I was enjoying it so much last year and we had so much fun. I'm very excited to do that again."
Playing alongside Marc-Andre Fleury, Gustavsson got the start in 5 of the 6 playoff games for the Wild last postseason, losing to the Dallas Stars in 6 games in the first round. His biggest moment in that series was a 51 save showing in a game one double OT win for the Wild.
With Gustavsson now under contract, the Wild now have just Calen Addison left to sign in their pool of RFA's and about $1.6 million in cap space to get it done.
Comments
Post a Comment