New Minnesota general manager Chuck Fletcher continued his wheeling and dealing in the NHL draft on Saturday, trading the Wild’s fourth and fifth-round picks to Edmonton for center Kyle Brodziak.
The 25-year-old Brodziak had 27 points in 79 games for the Oilers last season. The 6-foot-2 Alberta native had career highs of 14 goals and 17 assists in 80 games with Edmonton in 2007-08.
Brodziak played on the fourth line in Edmonton, but the Wild desperately needed to bolster their depth at center. Mikko Koivu(notes) was the only player on the team to give them a consistent presence in the face-off circle last season.
Brodziak, who played for new Wild coach Todd Richards at Wilkes Barre in the AHL, won 51.6 percent of his faceoffs last season. Fletcher has called draft picks “the lifeblood of an organization,” which underscores the impact he thinks Brodziak can make with the Wild next season.
The Minnesota Wild have signed veteran goaltender Wade Dubielewicz to add depth behind All-Star Niklas Backstrom.
The move gives the Wild a third goaltender on the roster and more stability should they decide to trade backup Josh Harding(notes), who had a 2.21 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage last season. The Wild signed Backstrom to an extension that will make him the No. 1 goaltender for the next four years.
The 30-year-old Dubielewicz has a career record of 17-15-1 with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in 40 career appearances with the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Wild also signed right wingers Duncan Milroy and Jon DiSalvatore to contracts.
The wild will probably be the most support Wade Dubielewicz has had in front of him in his career, It will be interesting to see what he can really do when he doesn't have to stand on his head every day.
I really think they should trade Josh Harding. Shipping off a young goaltender who has all the potential in the world could bring them some young scoring depth or young defensemen.
A trade with a team like Colorado would work out well for both teams, since Colorado would get a young goaltender that's poised to become a starter and they would be able to give up a player like Wolski or Svatos and a pick. Svatos especially could do well if he's given a chance in a top six role, which hasn't happened in Colorado for the past couple of years.
Of course, it's doubtful that this happens since they're in the same division.
Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher announced today the National Hockey League (NHL) team has agreed to terms with goaltender Josh Harding on a one-year contract prior to today’s scheduled arbitration hearing in Toronto, Ontario.
Harding, 25 (6/18/84), appeared in 19 games – 11 starts – with the Wild in 2008-09, going 3-9-1 with a 2.21 GAA and .929 SV Pct. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound native of Regina, Sask., has appeared in 58 NHL games making 43 starts for Minnesota in parts of four seasons, going 19-27-4 with a 2.49 GAA, a .920 SV% and three career shutouts. Harding was Minnesota’s second-round pick (No. 38 overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
I would really hope that the wild only resigned him to try to trade and get something for him. B/c Harding deserves better than a spot start when Backstrom wants off, and especially now a part of a three headed monster in Minnesota. Harding definitely has the skill to be a starter, just need a chance.
The Minnesota Wild have signed right wing Petr Sykora to a one-year, $1.6 million contract.
Sykora skated with the team on a tryout basis for two practices, and once he passed his physical the deal was done on Thursday.
“I guess I had a good practice,” Sykora joked.
The 32-year-old ranked fourth on the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins last season with 46 points in 76 games. He had 25 goals, giving him 300 over his 14-year career. Sykora has played in the Stanley Cup finals five times.
Wild Off-Season Thread 09/10
Wild Off-Season Thread 09/10
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