Gustavsson wants to be Wild's No. 1 goalie 'in 3 years'

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Filip Gustavsson has a clear goal in mind after signing a three-year, $11.25 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on Monday.

"In three years, I hope to be the No. 1, and be really the outspoken No. 1 and play most of the games and hopefully sign another deal, a longer deal in the NHL," Gustavsson said. "This feels like my proving point. That I can keep playing such a high level for consecutive years in a row."

The 25-year-old, who was a restricted free agent and avoided a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday, went 22-9-7 with a 2.10 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and three shutouts in 39 games (37 starts) while splitting time with Marc-Andre Fleury last season.

Gustavsson then went 2-3 with a 2.33 GAA and .921 save percentage against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference First Round, which the Wild lost in six games.

Although Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin said there will not be a clear-cut No. 1 between Fleury and Gustavsson this season, he expects "[Gustavsson] to come in at top shape and compete for the starting job."

"This is something that worked for us last year," Guerin continued. "[Gustavsson], even though he had some great games, he still hasn't had the workload of a true starter. But that doesn't mean he can't do it. He just might be ready for that.

"They're both going to get great opportunities to prove what they can do and, like I said, I think [Gustavsson] has the potential to do more than he did last year. To play more, and I think that would be good. We can manage [Fleury's] minutes and games like that. [Gustavsson] will definitely take a bigger role. He'll play more games."

Gustavsson added that he's excited for another season to learn under Fleury, who has one season remaining on a two-year, $7 million contract he signed with the Wild on July 8, 2022.

"Even though it's maybe one of his last season's now, he still just competes and wants to improve those small details when the game is changing every year a little bit, and he still wants to see us be the best," Gustavsson said. "That's so cool. Someone that has played so long and has so much success, it feels like some (goalies) probably just enjoy the last few seasons and kind of relax, but it feels like he's just pushing through and still wants to be the No. 1 and be one of the best goalies in the League."

Another season of Fleury and Gustavsson also allows more time for Jesper Wallstedt to develop with Iowa of the American Hockey League.

Wallstedt, who was selected with the No. 20 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, went 18-15-5 with a 2.68 GAA, .908 save percentage and one shutout in 38 AHL games last season, his first in North America.

"I think just having 'Gus' and 'Flower' right now does give Jesper time," Guerin said. "We have the luxury of not having to rush him.

"That being said, if Jesper's playing great and he's ready to make the jump, hey look, having good goalies is a luxury, and we've got three of them, so we're very happy about that."