Latest news with #FilipGustavsson
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Will the Wild's Gustavsson-Wallstedt goalie tandem be ‘rivalry' or partnership?
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Filip Gustavsson knew he had something special, something unique, in Marc-Andre Fleury. It wasn't just that Fleury is a future Hall of Famer. A legend. One of the best teammates ever. An all-time prankster. Fleury was also the right mentor at the right time for the 26-year-old Swedish goaltender in his rise to becoming the Minnesota Wild's No. 1 goalie. Advertisement A backup who backed him up. They shared jokes, rides, advice. They were friends and each other's biggest fans. 'Usually, you have more of a rivalry between goalies because only one guy can play,' Gustavsson said. 'It felt like (Fleury) was very happy when I played and vice versa a little bit more. That's something that's very rare. I'm trying to get into this league and be more established all the time. He's on his way out a little bit.' With Fleury retiring this season, Gustavsson knows the dynamic going forward will change. 'It's going to be more of a rivalry again,' he said. That figures to be between Gustavsson, now the entrenched starter who could sign an extension this summer, and fellow Swede Jesper Wallstedt, the anticipated 'goalie of the future' who has a lot to prove. How the dynamic plays out, and how they perform, could go a long way in determining the Wild's fate. 'It's going to be really interesting,' said Linda Blomquist, who spent time as both Gustavsson's and Wallstedt's goalie coach in Sweden. 'Filip is a really relaxed, down-to-earth, really chill, funny guy. I hope he can hand that off to Jesper. 'Jesper, on the other hand, has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, being a top prospect. I'm hoping (Gustavsson) can be a Fleury to Jesper.' For the past 11 years, from when Gustavsson was 15, he has trained with Blomquist in Lulea, about an hour south of his hometown. Wallstedt joined Blomquist when he was around 15, too, having played for Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League until he turned pro in North America in 2022. One notable element in the pairing is that the goalies are pretty similar in their technique — how they play the position. That could help them. Blomquist said Gustavsson's rough 2023-24 season and Wallstedt's struggles this past season were both partly because they were getting away from the simple approach that's made them successful. Gustavsson, at times, tried to be too much like Fleury in net. Advertisement Blomquist said she plans to talk to Gustavsson this summer about his approach to working with Wallstedt. 'Filip is a really nice guy, and it doesn't surprise me that he really likes the partnership part of it,' Blomquist said. 'He doesn't want to fight with anybody. If he has to, he's super, super competitive, but I feel he's more competitive directed internally toward himself and not so much what other people think, say or do. 'Jesper has been more competitive at a younger age and in a different way than Filip. Filip has been, for a long time, 'I love hockey, I want to play.' Jesper's mindset has been, 'I want to show them I'm the best.' Filip would never say that; he'd show you. I think the last two years in the (AHL) have changed Jesper a little bit in a positive way. He's been humbled. That's been really good for him.' Gustavsson, of all people, knows there's a business side to this game. He's already been traded twice — from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Ottawa Senators in 2018, and then to the Wild in the summer of 2022. Then he found himself in trade rumors again last season, with the Wild open to moving him. Now, just 12 months later, there's talk of Minnesota approaching Gustavsson about an extension this summer, when he's one year removed from free agency. 'This business is very quick,' Gustavsson said. 'It's a weird job to have. They can like you, they don't like you and then they can like you again.' Filip Gustavsson's gesture Tuesday spoke to both his character + his relationship with Marc-Andre Fleury. With Gustavsson growing into #mnwild No. 1, exploring bond that's shaping franchise future in net. 'I love 'Gus',' Fleury says. 'Whatever he needs.' — Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) April 18, 2025 That's why Gustavsson isn't necessarily expecting contract talks to start this summer. He'd be open to them. He'd love to stay. And he'd like more time playing with Wallstedt. Gustavsson said they once briefly shared an apartment in Sweden, and he got to spend more time with Wallstedt last summer in Minnesota, playing golf and video games. But they're not close like he is with Fleury. Advertisement 'It's going to be good,' Gustavsson said. 'I get my own personal opinion on how he is as a guy and all that stuff.' When Gustavsson said it was going to be a 'rivalry,' it didn't mean he expected acrimony. But they're two young goalies competing for the same net. It's not a new situation for Gustavsson, but it will be different than with Fleury. 'It's gonna be a little quiet, I think,' Gustavsson said. 'Usually I am not the most talkative person and, you know, having (Fleury) talking and coming up with a lot of things, giving advice and having that very big smile coming into practice every day and competing every Monday morning at 9 o'clock in the morning, he's gotta be missed for that.' Wallstedt has mostly watched Gustavsson from afar this season, and he has been impressed. He seems open to learning from him. Wallstedt went through an extremely rough season with AHL Iowa, calling it 'terrible,' and said he's hoping for a similar 'reset' to Gustavsson's last summer. Get away from hockey for a little bit, be around family, then work your butt off to be ready. 'He's been exceptional this year,' Wallstedt said of Gustavsson. 'I remember all you guys (media) ripping him from last year, not being as good as possible, and see what a bounce back year he had? That's something I can take away as well. The way he has worked, it's paid off for him. Maybe he's learned a lot of things from other experiences. It's not even about hockey. It could be stuff that goes on the outside as well. There could be a lot of things that your life throws at you.' Blomquist said Gustavsson being a first-time dad during the 2022-23 season impacted him — mostly in a positive way, in putting the game in perspective, but also there was an adjustment to Gustavsson's routine. 'The job is very demanding,' Gustavsson said. 'That takes time to figure out what to do, when to be available, when I've got to go to sleep.' Advertisement As for the trade rumors last summer, Blomquist said it wasn't something Gustavsson spoke about. All he knew was that the Wild weren't happy with how that past year went, and neither was he, and he was determined to show he'd get better. 'It affects everybody, they read and hear things,' Blomquist said. 'I don't know if the rumors per se affected him. He knew Minnesota wasn't happy, and he came to realize how much of a business the NHL is and how much of a trading item he is. He's someone you pay a lot of money to, but if you don't, someone else can have his job. He's pretty aware of that. He just wanted to stay in Minnesota. He liked it there. He was focused on being the best version of himself.' The Wild are planning on Wallstedt being Gustavsson's backup to start next season, though they're going to try to find an experienced No. 3 to have in AHL Iowa (or be able to step in at the NHL level if either gets hurt). Can Wallstedt put in an effective 20 or 25 games as an NHL backup? That remains to be seen. But how Gustavsson and Wallstedt work together will be telling. Jesper Wallstedt isn't making excuses. Last season was "terrible." But it hasn't cracked the faith of the touted #mnwild prospect – or the team's brass. A very candid 1-on-1. "I've not been good enough. But that doesn't change what I can become." — Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) May 14, 2025 'I think you always have to help each other in that way,' Gustavsson said. 'When you're at this level, you can just do so much with the technique. But it's all about your headspace. If you had a bad year, I don't think it's as much about technique or that; it's all about mindset and space. Having a summer reset and all that stuff can be positive and pushing each other next year. It's going to be good.' Will the two resume Gustavsson and Fleury's tradition of coming up with animals, fruits, etc., from letters A-Z during timeouts and intermissions? Maybe they'll find their own thing. But it'll be important for the goalie of the present and future to connect. 'I'm hoping they're going to support each other,' Blomquist said. 'I called a lot of goalies when they've had top prospects on my team here at home, and they worry about the competition and the rivalry between someone who is almost as good as you. I tell them they don't have to worry about the competition; they both can be successful in the long run. Advertisement 'Instead of putting a lot of energy into being bitter about someone else's success, same with Jesper and Filip, you've got to support them. (Fleury) is the best example of that kind of person you can have. I don't think there are a lot of Fleury's out there. But I hope they can bring the best out of each other.' (Top photos of Jesper Wallstedt, Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury courtesy of the Wild and by Nick Wosika / USA Today)
New York Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Shackles finally off, Wild GM Bill Guerin knows it's time to deliver a contender
ST. PAUL, Minn. — When Bill Guerin first got the Minnesota Wild general manager job six years ago, one of the first things he said was: 'I think there's everything here to win.' The Wild haven't gotten out of the first round since then — their streak extends to 2015 — and even Guerin admitted before this season that they've never really been 'serious contenders.' That has to change now. Guerin knows it. There are no more excuses. The shackles are off, with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter's $14.7 million of dead cap hits almost completely coming off the books starting in 2025-26. 'It's just like, 'Oh, God, we don't have to hear about it anymore,'' Guerin quipped. But that also raises the expectations — and the pressure to deliver. Guerin said this is 'without a doubt, the best position that this team has been in,' since he arrived. He's confident he'll extend the contract of superstar Kirill Kaprizov this summer, when the Russian winger is eligible to add up to eight years on to the final year of his contract. Guerin also has a No. 1 goalie in Filip Gustavsson, a cornerstone defenseman in Brock Faber, elite forwards like Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek and some talented young players starting to arrive like Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, David Jiricek, Danila Yurov and Jesper Wallstedt. Now, Guerin has to add to that foundation with an aggressive and smart offseason to put the Wild in a class with the top teams in the Western Conference. That means sensible decisions in free agency or bold trades. 'It's important,' Guerin said. 'There's always a process involved. But the process gets sped up when you don't have the constraints that we've had. You know me now. I like to be aggressive. I don't want to sit on my hands at all. And I'm kind of tired of doing that. Since I walked through the door, my goal has been to build a championship-caliber team in this market. And that's what I want to do. 'I don't want to sign any stupid contracts or anything like that. But I want to make this team better than it is today.' As much encouragement as the Wild could take from how they played against the Vegas Golden Knights — everyone from players to staff said it felt 'different' than previous years — it wasn't enough, and it led to an eighth straight first-round exit. Once again, the Wild are holding postmortems while eight other franchises have moved on to the second round. 'I'm not satisfied with the result,' Guerin said. 'But I'm not disappointed in our players or coaches.' The key question is whether the progress will be enough to convince Kaprizov to sign an extension one year removed from free agency on July 1. Kaprizov said he 'loves everything' about being here and contract talks 'should be good,' but until he's locked up, the team's long-term future is on unsteady ground. 'My expectations are to get him signed,' Guerin said. 'That's it. Obviously, everyone knows how important Kirill is to the team and the organization, to the market. He's a star player. That's priority No. 1.' Signing Kaprizov is the no-brainer with seemingly no budget, as owner Craig Leipold said before the season that no team can — or will — offer him more term (an eighth year as opposed to 31 other teams that can only sign him for seven in 2026) and money than Minnesota. Kaprizov's teammates will probably try to do their share of recruiting. 'I'm just threatening him a little bit, that's it,' veteran winger Marcus Foligno joked. 'I think everything is going to be just fine there. He's enjoying it. He's enjoying the team. I think the biggest thing is that he just wants to win, and I think this was a promising sign that our team can do it. We can get there. We're so close. I think if it was maybe the other way around — if we didn't show up and it was a little disastrous — I think maybe. But I've got 100 percent confidence that we'll get him here long-term. Or I'll just rip up his visa.' What Guerin does next with around $17 million in cap space this summer could help determine whether the Wild take that next step. Guerin acknowledged that July 1 can be a 'day of mistakes,' with most teams having to overpay in free agency. The key is to be aggressive but smart in addressing needs. Even though 23-year-old Marco Rossi scored a career-high 24 goals and 60 points, Guerin says the priority this summer is to get center help to take a load off Eriksson Ek, adding he 'wouldn't be opposed to a scoring winger.' Brock Nelson, John Tavares and Sam Bennett are some of the top centers on the free-agent market. Mitch Marner is the biggest fish, primarily a wing who can play center. Brock Boeser is a notable winger available who the Wild have flirted with trading for in the past. The heat is on Guerin to make the right moves. 'I get excited,' Guerin said. 'Not that I don't feel pressure. I do sometimes. I'm more excited than anything. It's been a long couple years dealing with this stuff. Honestly, just hearing about (the Parise and Suter buyout penalties). … With that comes higher expectations, but I like high expectations. I want high expectations. I'm not doing this job to sit in a corner.' And then there's the question of what to do with Rossi. If Guerin wants to add to the center position in free agency and believes Yurov can make a 'big impact' on the roster (assuming the team's able to sign him), where does that leave room for Rossi? Rossi was 'disappointed' with his fourth-line usage in the playoffs after being in the top six most of the season. The 2020 first-round pick was the team's second-leading scorer and played the third-fewest minutes among Wild players in the playoffs. Rossi said he had an honest, 'man-like' exit meeting with coach John Hynes on Monday. As much as Hynes and Guerin say Rossi wasn't demoted — that Ryan Hartman was elevated — that's semantics, and there's a disconnect here between the two parties. This genuinely could spell the end in Minnesota for Rossi, a pending restricted free agent who didn't accept a five-year, $25 million extension earlier this winter. Is there a path forward? 'To me, it's understanding each other's side,' Hynes said. 'For sure, he's not going to be overly excited about his minutes. … We have honest conversations. We've had it. We're in a good spot. He understands. I understand where he's coming from and how he felt. Now you just move on. 'It's not a situation where we don't trust him or we don't like him. If you look at how much I played him and relied upon him and have a relationship with him and put him in situations to succeed, as well. Some of it comes down to performance, particularly in a playoff series.' The question is whether Rossi wants to re-sign at a number and term the Wild are comfortable with. Teams would no doubt try to offer-sheet him if he remains unsigned beyond July 1. So could Guerin see trading Rossi around next month's draft? 'I don't know,' Guerin said. 'We'll see what happens. There's contract talks. There's player movement — not just for Marco; for anybody. I'm not going to try to predict the future where I see this, I see that. I have to go through the process and see where it goes.' Guerin said the blue line is set, and he knows they'll have to try to find a spot for David Jiricek after giving up Daemon Hunt and four picks to acquire him. So there shouldn't be any additions on that front (Declan Chisholm is a pending RFA). Guerin indicated they could re-sign one of their pending UFAs; Marcus Johansson is the only one that makes sense. Guerin said he could see a situation where he approaches Gustavsson about an extension. The Swede has one year left on his deal at a $3.75 million average annual value. The Wild will likely try to find an experienced No. 3 goalie for AHL Iowa, considering the struggles of their top prospect, Wallstedt, who is expected to back up Gustavsson next season. Guerin finally has flexibility with the buyout dead weight behind him. The salary cap is going up significantly the next three seasons. And there's a core group of players — Foligno, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Mats Zuccarello and Hartman, to name a few — who aren't getting any younger. Now is the time to strike for Guerin, who enters his seventh season. 'These are big jobs,' Guerin said. 'They're important jobs. There's a lot of people out there who love the Minnesota Wild. And I'm trying to deliver something to them. We all are. We're trying to deliver that to them. It's a lot. But I love it. I wouldn't want to do anything else.' Wild salary cap situation (Photo: Dave Sandford / NHLI via Getty Images)
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
2025 Stanley cup playoffs, where chaos meets glory
Filip Gustavsson #32 of the Minnesota Wild skates onto the ice prior to the start of the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights of Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center (Credit: Getty Image) The Stanley Cup playoffs have returned with their signature blend of brilliance and bedlam. Sixteen teams embark on hockey's most grueling tournament, where legends are forged and dreams are shattered. Defending champions Florida enter as favorites, but playoff history favors the hungry. Unexpected heroes always emerge when the stakes are highest. Playoff hockey arrived with its usual brutality and beauty. Pucks bounce strangely. Tempers flare unexpectedly. Heroes emerge from nowhere. The Florida Panthers learned this first-hand in their title defense opener - a dominant 6-2 statement against Tampa that felt too easy to trust. Carolina's methodical dismantling of New Jersey looks more convincing. Their system hums like precision machinery. Rod Brind'Amour's squad plays with a quiet confidence that unsettles opponents. They've become the team no one wants to face. West Coast Wildcards by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Stanley Cup Playoffs Updates & Conn Smythe Odds | Total Hockey Now 🏒 Los Angeles delivered the playoffs' first shocker. Their two commanding wins over Edmonton left the hockey world blinking. The Kings play a brand of heavy, disciplined hockey that gives skilled teams nightmares. Suddenly, Connor McDavid faces his toughest playoff test yet. Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck built a fortress around his net. Two shutouts. Zero mercy. The Jets' goalie gives them something most teams lack - absolute confidence in their last line of defense. Meanwhile, Dallas and Colorado trade blows in a series that feels destined for seven games. Goalie Gambles Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (Credit: Getty Image) Netminders make or break playoff dreams. Hellebuyck's brilliance contrasts sharply with Edmonton's goaltending disaster. Carolina's Andersen continues his career renaissance. Toronto's Stolarz - a midseason acquisition - now carries the hopes of a desperate franchise. The position's volatility terrifies contenders. One bad game can derail a series. One hot streak can steal it. Teams with shaky goaltending already feel the pressure mounting. Those with stability sleep easier. Underdog Redemption Washington's veterans refuse to fade quietly. Ovechkin's overtime magic reminded everyone of his legendary status. The Kings' physical play makes them more than just pesky underdogs. Even trailing teams show teeth - Tampa's Game 2 response proved champions die hard. The playoffs reward stubbornness. Colorado's comeback win showcased their resilience. Vegas keeps finding ways to win ugly. These early games reveal which teams can handle adversity and which will crumble under it. Read more: Skaters under fire: The key NHL player profiles carrying 2025's playoff load The Road Ahead Carolina looks unstoppable, but playoff hockey specializes in humbling favorites. Florida's physical dominance will face stiffer tests. Winnipeg's dream start means nothing if they can't sustain it. Every contender carries fatal flaws waiting to be exposed. Key questions linger. Can McDavid single-handedly rescue Edmonton? Will Toronto's stars finally deliver? Does Vegas have another miracle run in them? The answers will emerge shift by shift, game by game. The Stanley Cup playoffs remain sports' most unpredictable tournament. Early results provide clues, not conclusions. Hot goalies cool off. Struggling stars awaken. The only certainty is more chaos coming. For players and fans alike, the real drama starts now.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson named NHL's First Star of the Week
Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson has been named the NHL's First Star of the Week after going 3-0 with just two total goals allowed in wins over the Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, and Buffalo Sabres last week. Gustavsson made 82 combined saves in the three victories at Xcel Energy Center, including a 34-save shutout against the Kraken on Wednesday. For the week, he averaged 0.67 goals against and had a .976 save percentage. Forwards Jack Eichel (Golden Knights) and Dylan Holloway (Blues) were the two other stars of the week, the league announced on Monday. The 26-year-old Gustavsson is in his third season with the Wild and his second as their No. 1 goaltender, ahead of Marc-Andre Fleury. In 48 starts this season, he's gone 28-15-4 with a 2.48 GAA and .917 save percentage. Those 28 wins rank sixth among NHL goalies, and his save percentage is tied for fifth among goalies with at least 20 games played. In a season littered with injuries to key players, his steady play has been one reason why Minnesota is likely headed to the playoffs. Gustavsson is the first Wild player included among the NHL's Three Stars of the Week since Marco Rossi was the first star on the week that ended Jan. 5. Gustavsson was also the third star on the week that ended Oct. 20 of last year. He's the first Wild goaltender named as the league's first star since Cam Talbot in March of 2022. A native of Sweden, Gustavsson began his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators before signing with the Wild in July 2023. Gustavsson and the Wild (40-25-5) will put their three-game winning streak on the line against the Dallas Stars (44-21-4) on Monday night. Minnesota sits seven points behind Dallas and four points behind the Colorado Avalanche in the Central Division. The Wild are eight points clear of the Calgary Flames for one of the two wild card spots.
Associated Press
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Zuccarello has a goal and an assist and Wild hold on to beat Kraken 4-3
SEATTLE (AP) — Mats Zuccarello's goal 8:22 into the second period proved to be the difference in the Minnesota Wild's 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night. Zuccarello, Frederick Gaudreau and Jared Spurgeon all had a goal and an assist for the Wild, and Filip Gustavsson made 33 saves. Vinnie Hinostroza scored Minnesota's first goal of the game on the power play. Zuccarello scored on a snap shot, assisted by Gaudreau and Marcus Johansson, putting the Wild up 4-1. Brandon Montour and Shane Wright — on the power play — scored late in the second period to pull the Kraken within 4-3. Adam Larsson also scored for Seattle and Joey Daccord had 16 saves. Takeaways Wild: Minnesota is now 5-5-0 over its last 10 games and in fourth place in the Western Conference. Wild forward Ryan Hartman returned after serving an eight-game suspension for slamming an opponent's head to the ice. He had an assist on Spurgeon's first-period goal. Kraken: Seattle is 4-5-1 in its last 10 games. Montour's goal came with 12 seconds left in the second period but the Kraken could not build on the momentum in the third. t Filip Gustavsson denied Eeli Tolvanen's penalty shot 4:21 into second period, a shot that proved to be the difference in the game. Gustavsson has now stopped all four penalty shots he's faced in his career. Key stat Zuccarello had his 79th multi-point game while playing for the Wild, tying Zach Parise for fourth-most in franchise history. Up next The Wild visit the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night. The Kraken are in Nashville to face the Predators on Thursday night. ___ ___
