Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson will undergo hip surgery and it is unclear whether he’ll be recovered in time for training camp.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin surmised on Monday that the surgery would take place “as soon as possible.” Guerin said the injury was the wear-and-tear type and wasn’t sustained in any one situation.
The hip injury could be the reason Gustavsson’s performance declined late in the season and why he started just one postseason game. Rookie Jesper Wallstedt was the main goalie during the Wild’s playoff run, which ended in the second round against the Colorado Avalanche.
Gustavsson didn’t mention an injury when he met with reporters on Friday. He has a five-year, $34 million contract that begins with the 2026-27 season.
Gustavsson, 27, was 28-15-6 with a 2.69 goals-against average and four shutouts in 50 games (49 starts) this season. He allowed four goals and stopped 18 shots in a 5-2 loss to Colorado in his Game 2 playoff start.
Overall, he is 111-74-26 with a 2.67 GAA and 15 shutouts in 219 appearances (210 starts) in one-plus seasons with the Ottawa Senators (2020-22) and four seasons with the Wild.
Wallstedt, 23, went 18-9-6 with a 2.61 GAA and four shutouts in 35 regular-season appearances (33 starts). He was 5-5-0 with a 2.77 GAA in 10 playoff starts.
Guerin likes the strong goalie tandem – both players are from Sweden – and doesn’t feel pressure to trade one of them.
“I like our goaltending situation, to be quite honest with you,” Guerin said. “Both of our goalies are No. 1 goalies, you know? The luxury of it is being able to put a fresh, rested goalie in the net every night, and you know both guys are signed. They’re both very good. They work well in a tandem. They support each other. I’m very comfortable with where it is.”
