The blockbuster $136M Kirill Kaprizov contract extension is dominating the headlines for the Minnesota Wild, but he isn’t the only player securing his future in St. Paul. There’s also Filip Gustavsson, who signed a more understated five-year contract extension just before the season began. Kaprizov may bring the firepower, but it’s Gustavsson who brings the stability and can thwart the opposition when all else fails. In fact, Gustavsson did exactly that, shutting out the St. Louis Blues in the opener for a perfect 27 saves out of 27.

It was a great night for the Wild, having scored 5 goals to none.  Ryan Hartman opened the scoring at 15:54 of the first period, followed by Matt Boldy at 17:30. In the second period, Joel Eriksson Ek scored a power-play goal at 12:27, and Ryan Hartman added another at 17:36. Marco Rossi capped the scoring in the third period at 7:27. But amidst the adrenaline of the win, Gustavsson took some time to reflect on the enormity of his new deal.

“It’s life-changing money…and you don’t have to gamble with that type of money. Like, I live in a small town in Sweden. I’m gonna move back there after my career, and I don’t really need much more money than that,” he told The Athletic. His new contract is worth $34 million ($6.8 million average annual value) for the next five years, which begins in the 2026-27 season and goes through the 2030-31 season.

He hails from the city of Skellefteå in Sweden. Though it is the second largest city in Västerbotten county after Umeå, $34 million is indeed enough for the 27-year-old to comfortably spend his post-retirement life there.

With the new contract inked, Gustavsson can now play more freely, though he knows the real work is still to come. “I know I still have to play good this season, but now I don’t have to worry about it as much,” he added. For the Wild, it’s an absolute bargain if the Swede maintains his level; the opener surely is a good sign.

In the overall rankings, Gustavsson came in seventh last season with a .914 save percentage and 2.56 goals against average. To put his stats and contract into context, the goalies above him on the list, such as Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy, are costing their teams significantly more. Bobrovsky is signed on for 7 years on a contract worth $70 million, while Vasilevskiy is on an 8-year $76 million contract.

Another important detail about his contract was highlighted in a post by Michael Russo of The Athletic on X, which is that it contains a no-movement clause for the final three years: “According to sources, a no-move clause was added to his current contract and lasts until June 30, 2028. In the last three years of his new contract, Gustavsson’s no-move turns into a 15-team no-trade clause.”

Filip Gustavsson joined the Minnesota Wild on July 12, 2022, when the Wild acquired him from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for goaltender Cam Talbot. Since then, he has been a pillar between the pipes. 

Filip Gustavsson has been outstanding for the Minnesota Wild

“Gus has been real calm in his approach, his professionalism, right from day one since he got here,” said then-coach Dean Evason during his debut season for the club in March 2023. Back then, he started nine of Minnesota’s last 14 games and was second in the league in both goals against average (1.91) and save percentage (0.935) among goalies with more than 20 games played.

“I have to do it for the guys and for myself,” he said. The numbers only got better in the 2024-2025 season, where he started all 58 games he appeared in. The Swede posted a 31–19–6 record with a 2.56 goals-against average (GAA), a 0.914 save percentage (SV%), and five shutouts. He ranked among the NHL leaders in several categories, including tied for 3rd in shutouts, fifth in save percentage, and tied for 6th in wins. Gustavsson even set franchise records with a 161:49 home shutout streak and became the first Wild goaltender to score a goal.

In the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he started all six first-round games, with a 2–3 record with a 2.71 GAA and .914 SV%. He has evolved into one of the best goaltenders the Wild have started on the ice, and the five-year extension is only proof that they are ready to continue putting their faith in him.