Gustavsson is nearing an extension with the Minnesota Wild, continuing a plan to lock in a core under 30 after Kirill Kaprizov’s eight-year, $136 million deal. The Swede posted a career-best season (58 games, 2.56 GAA, .914 SV%) and finished pick sixth in Vezina voting, underscoring why Minnesota wants stability in net.

The move signals a multi-year commitment to a young core (Boldy, Eriksson Ek, Faber) with Wallstedt waiting in the wings. Minnesota’s goaltending market is thin, and the Wild aim to rebound in a stacked Central after last year’s first-round exit to Vegas, while developing Ohgren, Jiricek, and Buium on entry deals.

The excitement surrounding the NHL Draft is palpable, but for the Minnesota Wild, it’s a different narrative as they lack a first-round pick. General manager Bill Guerin remains focused on building his team for the future, citing the acquisition of defenseman David Jiricek as a significant win for the franchise. Although Jiricek has had limited playtime due to injury, his potential shines through. Guerin is content with the current roster and not feeling pressure to make hasty decisions during the draft.

Marco Rossi is under the spotlight as a restricted free agent after a standout season. Despite speculation about his potential departure from the Wild, Guerin reassures fans of Rossi's value to the team and emphasizes that he is not rushing to trade him. With salary cap flexibility returning, the Wild are poised to make calculated signings, focusing on acquiring forwards while also seeking a goaltender to solidify their options with Marc-Andre Fleury now retired.

In a recent shift, Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes revitalized the team’s power play by deploying five forwards against the Washington Capitals, culminating in a 4-2 victory. This strategic adaptation was highlighted by Matt Boldy’s transition to the blue line, where he scored a crucial game-tying goal after a shot redirected by Freddy Gaudreau. Boldy expressed his willingness to adapt to the change, illustrating the flexibility within the team.

Despite the success of the adjusted unit, Hynes acknowledged the need for improvement, considering the prior struggles of the power play. He emphasized Boldy’s strong shooting ability and comfort in the new position. Meanwhile, the Wild also faced unfortunate news as top prospect David Jiricek’s season concluded prematurely due to a serious injury, following his trade from Columbus. In a more emotional moment, the Wild’s Marc-Andre Fleury received a heartfelt farewell from longtime rival Alex Ovechkin, marking the end of an era for both players.

The Minnesota Wild faced off against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, quickly transforming the ice into a battleground with three fights within the opening minutes of the game. The first fight erupted between Nashville's Zachary L'Heureux and Minnesota's Yakov Trenin, a rematch sparked by previous tensions and injuries. Just moments later, Wild's Marcus Foligno engaged with Luke Schenn. Foligno's motivation was fueled by L'Heureux's slew-footing of Jared Spurgeon, who has been sidelined for several games.

Despite their aggressive start, the Wild's energy seemed to wane as the game progressed. Nashville capitalized on this, taking a commanding 4-1 lead in the second period with goals from Colton Sissons and Filip Forsberg, further extending their advantage with additional goals from Steven Stamkos and Fedor Svechkov. The Predators, who have struggled this season, managed to turn the tide and secure a critical victory over the Wild.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced a three-game suspension for Nashville Predators left winger Zachary L'Heureux following a slew-footing incident involving Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon. The incident occurred during a recent game, resulting in Spurgeon being forced to leave the ice without bearing weight on his right leg.

This marks L'Heureux's first suspension in the NHL, but he has a history of disciplinary actions, including nine suspensions in the QMJHL and two in the AHL. Last season, he accumulated a staggering 197 penalty minutes in 66 games with the Milwaukee Admirals.

With Spurgeon sidelined due to a lower-body injury, the Wild are also dealing with other injuries, including defenseman Jake Middleton and superstar Kirill Kaprizov, who is currently on injured reserve.