It's Time to Have a Real Conversation About Filip Gustavsson

Minnesota Wild G Filip Gustavsson was traded for Cam Talbot - 1 for 1.

That is absolutely outrageous and eight months later looks like the worst trade ever. For starters Gustavsson makes $787,500 and Talbot makes $3.7 million. For another, the former is 24 and the latter 35. And lastly Gustavsson is actually good. Like really, really good.

Per MoneyPuck.com, Gustavsson ranks 5th in goals-saved above expected behind only Linus Ullmark (BOS), Ilya Sorokin (NYI), Juuse Saros (NSH), and Connor Hellebuyck (WPG). In 31 starts, Gustavsson has an 18-9-5 record for the Wild with a 2.04 GAA and .932 SV%.

He resides in the '1B' role behind Marc-Andre Fleury, but he has been simply sensational this season. Considering he was basically a throw-in on the Cam Talbot deal, that is phenomenal business by GM Bill Guerin. Gustavsson was unconscious in Tuesday night's 2-1 OT win over the New Jersey Devils.

This was an excellent game. Hot take: I prefer low-scoring games to high-scoring games all day

He was beat only once when Timo Meier beat him on a wrap-around which could be described as a lucky bounce. Gustavsson was absolutely dialed in this one and is pretty much the only reason the Wild took the two points, stopping 47 of 48. He got a little help from his posts, but that's hockey baby.

If Minnesota can sign this guy to longer-term contract to a relatively low annual average value, Gustavsson could be the best value goalie the NHL.

And it's time that we talk about it.

MUST READ

41 minutes ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Connor Bedard Rapidly Losing His Confidence: Comments at Practice Worrying Fans

2 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Johnny Gaudreau's Wife Meredith Has Emotional Reaction to Beautiful Fan Tribute to Her Late Husband

4 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Brad Marchand Traded by the Boston Bruins? Top NHL Insider Lists Him as a Possible Player to Move

5 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad Loses His Cool and Insults Fan

18 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente LeBron James Says Goodbye: He Has Had Enough of the Media and Has Now Made a Statement

19 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery NHL Forced to Release Statement After Controversy Over Department of Player Safety Rulings on Hits to the Head

19 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Top Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect Tanner Howe Traded in Massive Five-Piece Deal

20 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Alex Ovechkin Suffers Unexpected Injury Setback: He Will Now Miss Significantly More Time

MORE STORIES