According to a report from The Athletic, both RFA goaltender Filip Gustavsson and forward Brandon Duhaime have filed for salary arbitration in advance of today's 4 p.m. deadline, which means both will be re-signed far ahead of training camp in September.
Had they not filed for arbitration, the Minnesota Wild would have had the option of filing for arbitration before Thursday's 4 p.m. deadline. The Wild's other RFA in defenseman Calen Addison isn't eligible to file for arbitration.
This doesn't mean both sides can't find a resolution before the arbitration hearing, where a third party will decide the salary — somewhere between both sides. What makes this offseason so tricky is the Wild's financial situation that has left them with about $6.49 million in cap space for Gustavsson, Duhaime and Addison.
Filip Gustavsson: The recently turned 25-year-old came to Minnesota from the Ottawa Senators in the one-for-one trade for Cam Talbot in July of 2022. Gustavsson broke out last season while proving to be a starter, finishing with a 22-9-7 record, .931 save percentage and 24.54 goals saved above expected via Evolving-Hockey.
Gustavsson had a .921 save percentage and 3.25 GSAx against the Dallas Stars in the playoffs. The Wild will have the option to decide whether they want Gustavsson on a one or two year contract. If it's one year, he will be an RFA again next summer. Under a two-year deal, he will become a UFA in the summer of 2025.
Brandon Duhaime: The recently turned 26-year-old has become a depth fixture thanks to his physical and gritty play. He wasn't shy from putting the puck in the back of the net, either, scoring nine goals (about a 14-goal pace over an 82-game season) during an injury-riddled 51-game season. Duhaime continues to progress and adds an important element to the Wild's bottom-six.
Duhaime will become a UFA next summer, so his contract will be a one-year deal at whatever salary the arbitrator chooses unless both parties make something work before the hearing date.
Required Reading
— Wild depth chart: 2023-24 roster taking final shape
— How Adin Hill's contract extension affects Filip Gustavsson's next contract
— Minnesota Wild draft recap: Minnesotans, centers and a draft steal
— Wild schedule release: Home opener against Florida Panthers set for Oct. 12