Filip Gustavsson
Gustavsson is an injured reserve goalie who is out for at least another month from the Oct. 18 report, and he is behind Jesper Wallstedt on the depth chart, so he has no clear starter's role when he returns.
Role
No role at present. The Wild's projected goalies for Nov. 1 at Washington were Wallstedt and Calvin Pickard (Inside the Rink, citing projected lines, 1 day old). Inside the Rink's injury table lists Gustavsson on IR with a hip injury and an expected return of Nov. 19. That is a third-party estimate, and I did not find the club confirming it. The Oct. 18 coach's update said at least another month. Wallstedt is 8-2-2 with a 1.99 GAA and .922 save percentage (BVM Sports, Oct. 31). The Star Tribune said Wallstedt opened the year as the No. 1. I could not fetch the Daily Faceoff line page, so I am not quoting it. Any split once Gustavsson is back has not been reported, and I found no sign of a set share.
Gustavsson is signed through a five-year, $34 million extension, and he and Wallstedt were described as one of the league's best tandems when both are healthy (Hockey Wilderness, 14 days old). Hockey Wilderness noted that the hip had been affecting him for a long stretch, which could explain a weaker finish to last season. Last season he played 50 games with 29 starts and a .904 save percentage, and he made the NHL's best tandem work early on. If Wallstedt has growing pains, Gustavsson is a proven fallback who could take back regular starts.
He lost the net down the stretch to Wallstedt, who started all but one playoff game through the first two rounds. Wallstedt is now playing well and the Wild are winning (9-3-2 at last check). Hockey Wilderness says the Wild could trade Gustavsson if Wallstedt proves to be a franchise goalie. The hip injury also makes him a risky piece for other teams. His return is not firm, and a return to a backup or part-time role is the most plausible outcome the coverage points to.
Where analysts split
The disagreement is how many starts Gustavsson gets once healthy. One view is a real tandem because the Wild signed him to a long extension as insurance. The other is that Wallstedt has taken the No. 1 job and Gustavsson becomes a backup or a trade candidate. The return date is also unsettled: Inside the Rink says Nov. 19, while the club's last word on record (Oct. 18) was at least another month.
Injury: IR: assessed avoid
Hip injury, LTIR, out at least a month
Gustavsson is on long-term IR with a hip injury and the team says he'll miss at least another month; he's just begun skating on his own and is not close to game action. Wallstedt and Pickard are handling the net in his absence.
What would change this: Progression past solo skating to practicing with the team or any update on a near-term return timeline.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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