From Uncertain Future to Star Goalie: Filip Gustavsson’s Journey to Success
After spending the first five-plus years of his North American hockey career stuck in the Ottawa Senators’ minor league system, Filip Gustavsson admits that the idea of returning to his native Sweden and finishing out his playing days back home was a consideration. However, a trade to Minnesota in the summer of 2022 changed the trajectory of Gustavsson’s career, and he now enters this season with a firm hold on the No. 1 spot and a five-year $34 million contract extension.
Gustavsson credits his time with future hall of famer Marc-Andre Fleury as a turning point in his career. Learning Fleury’s light-hearted approach to the game and his ability to keep the puck out of the net was a game-changer in terms of dealing with the pressures of the NHL spotlight. “Fleury had such a good mindset … with how much he just thought of it as a game and not as a job,” Gustavsson said. “He helped me really see it for what it was. Sometimes I felt it was hard and it was tough as a job, and (he) wanted to put your skates on every day and just have fun out there.”
A New Chapter in Minnesota
After starting as Fleury’s backup in 2022-23, Gustavsson gradually took the top job, appearing in 58 of 82 regular season games in 2024-25. With his potential free agency approaching next summer, the Wild made Gustavsson’s contract their next priority after signing Kirill Kaprizov to the richest contract in NHL history. “Knowing that Gus wants to stay here is great for us,” said Wild general manager Bill Guerin, revealing that the extension came together after just a few days of discussion. “It’s just something that seemed like a no-brainer, and we’re just really happy.”
Gustavsson, who is from a hockey family, played extensively in his native Sweden before being picked by Guerin, then with the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the second round of the 2016 NHL draft. Guerin made it clear that he was not involved in the Penguins’ decision to trade Gustavsson to Ottawa less than two years later. In Sweden, Gustavsson signed his first pro contract as a teenager, making the equivalent of around $20,000 per season. He said that signing the extension that will pay just under $7 million per season brought back a familiar feeling. “The hockey career feels short, but it’s the same butterflies in the stomach every time you sign a contract,” he said.
Embracing the Role of Mentor
In addition to wearing red and green in Minnesota, Gustavsson still puts on the blue and gold of his nation and was Team Sweden’s top goalie for the 4 Nations Face-Off last season. He is solidly in the mix to be the first option in goal for Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy come February. Having learned under Fleury, he is now embracing the role of mentor for fellow Swede Jesper Wallstedt, who got two NHL starts last season while the Wild dealt with injuries. “I think we have some potential to be a top five goalie tandem in the league together,” Gustavsson said. “He has had a few games now under his belt, and he’s going to grow and be very good.”
Gustavsson is expected to start Thursday in St. Louis when the Wild open the regular season versus the Blues. It was at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis last season on Oct. 15 that Gustavsson fired a puck end to end into an empty Blues net, sealing a 4-1 win and becoming the first goalie in Wild history to score a goal.
Originally Published: October 6, 2025 at 4:33 PM CDT
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