ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild locked up restricted free agent Marco Rossi to a three-year contract on Friday. After that the question became, what's next?
Heading into the offseason the topics around the Wild were how the dead cap massive penalties will be a lot more manageable for the Wild on July 1st. They used that extra cap space to trade for Vladimir Tarasenko and sign free agent forward Nico Sturm. They also signed Rossi.
The main thing heading into July 1st was the Kirill Kaprizov extension. Now on Aug 25th, the Wild and Kaprizov have not agreed to an extension. He is still under contract for this upcoming season but after the 2025-26 season, Kaprizov is eligible for free agency.
When asked after the Wild's season ended, General Manager Bill Guerin said he doesn't feel any pressure when it comes to extending Kaprizov.
"No, I don’t feel pressure of that. Nobody can offer him more than we can," Guerin said. "What Craig (Leipold) said is true. It’s true. I’ll just say that I’m very confident we’re going to get a deal done with Kirill. I think he really loves this market and this team. I think he feels that we're going in the right direction. He’s got a good relationship with John (Hynes). He’s got a good relationship with me, and it’s just a matter of working through it."
Over four months later there is still no contract extension with Kaprizov. The Wild superstar forward has spent his offseason in Russia. If a contract would have been agreed upon it would have felt a little weird to do a zoom call with Kaprizov about his new mega contact as the highest paid player in the league.
That being said, the two sides will likely talk when training camp and preseason roll around
“My expectations are to get him signed," Guerin said in May about what his expectations are for a possible Kaprizov extension. "That’s it.”
Next up is goaltender Filip Gustavsson.
The 6-foot-2 goaltender is entering his last year of a three-year contract. He just posted a really good bounce-back type of season for the Wild and now has one more year until he is a free agent.
Would the Wild be open to contract extension talks with Gustavsson?
"Yeah I can see it. I don't rule anything out," Guerin said in May. "It's not like I am trying to give you a stupid answer. Yeah, definitely could."
That being said, the Wild have not engaged in any conversations with Gustavsson.
Gustavsson was asked in May after the season ended if he expects to talk about a contract extension with the Wild during the offseason.
"Not really," he said.
If the Wild come to him and ask about an extension would he be open to it?
"I'm not really sure. I've got one more year," Gustavsson said. "I'm not really sure."
It would be smart for the Wild to get something done with Gustavsson. He is coming off a terrific year and if he follows it up he will walk into free agency as the top goaltender available and young at the age of 27.
He went 31-19-6 during the regular season with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in 58 games. In six playoff games, Gustavsson went 2-3-0 with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.
Before the year started Gustavsson was in multiple trade rumors after posting a 3.06 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage during the 2023-24 season. Ultimately, there was no deal made and Gustavsson returned to the Wild.
"This business is very quick. It's a weird job to have," Gustavsson said. "They can like you, they don't like you, and then they can like you again. It's a weird decision."
When training camp opens in a few weeks, I would think there would be conversations about possible extensions with both Kaprizov and Gustavsson. After the signing of Rossi, the focus has shifted to Kaprizov but don't count out Gustavsson.
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