MINNESOTA WILD MAKES DEADLINE DEALS
Mar 5, 2014MINNESOTA WILD UPDATES
The Minnesota Wild was active at the NHL Trade Deadline. The big club also signed three young forwards this week. Here are the latest press releases.
3.5.14
MINNESOTA WILD ACQUIRES MATT MOULSON AND CODY MCCORMICK
FROM THE BUFFALO SABRES IN EXCHANGE FOR TORREY MITCHELL
AND SECOND-ROUND SELECTIONS IN THE 2014 AND 2016 NHL ENTRY DRAFTS
MOULSON RANKS FOURTH IN NHL IN POWER PLAY GOALS, 16TH IN GOALS SCORED SINCE 2009-10
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired forwards Matt Moulson and Cody McCormick from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Torrey Mitchell, a second-round selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired from Winnipeg) and a second-round selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Moulson, 30 (11/1/83), has collected 38 points (17-21=38) in 55 games this season with the New York Islanders and Buffalo. He was acquired by the Sabres along with a first-round selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft from the New York Islanders in exchange for Thomas Vanek on Oct. 27, 2013. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of North York, Ont., owns 262 points (135-127=262) including 47 power-play goals and 16 game-winning goals in 377 career NHL games in seven seasons with Los Angeles, the New York Islanders and Buffalo. He ranks fourth in the NHL in power-play goals (47) and 16th in goals scored (129) since the start of the 2009-10 season.
He collected 44 points (15-29=44) in 47 games with the Islanders last season and ranked tied for seventh in the NHL with eight power-play goals. Moulson established career-highs in goals (36), assists (33) and points (69) with New York in 2011-12 and ranked 10th in the NHL in goals, eclipsing the 30-goal mark for the third straight season. He collected 138 points (71-67=138) in 134 games during four seasons at Cornell University (2002-06) and was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the ninth round (263rd overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Moulson will wear sweater No. 26 with Minnesota.
McCormick, 30 (4/18/83), has recorded five points (1-4=5), 60 hits and 45 penalty minutes (PIM) in 29 games with Buffalo this season. The 6-foot-2, 224-pound native of London, Ont., has notched 59 points (19-40=59) and 503 PIM in 358 career NHL games in nine seasons with Colorado and Buffalo. He owns four points (1-3=4) and 23 PIM in 14 career playoff games. McCormick made his NHL debut against St. Louis on Oct. 12, 2003, recorded his first NHL point with an assist at Minnesota on Oct. 16, 2003 and tallied his first career NHL goal vs. Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2003. He was originally selected by Colorado in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. McCormick will wear jersey No. 8 with Minnesota.
Mitchell, 29 (1/30/85), notched 17 points (5-12=17) and 42 PIM in 103 games with Minnesota after being signed as a free agent on July 1, 2012.
3.4.14
MINNESOTA WILD ACQUIRES GOALIE ILYA BRYZGALOV
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired goalieIlya Bryzgalov (pronounced IHL-yah breez-GAH-lahf) from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
“Bryzgalov is a quality veteran who adds depth to the goaltending position for our team,” said Fletcher.
Bryzgalov, 33 (6/22/80), has appeared in 445 NHL games during 12 seasons with Anaheim, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Edmonton, posting a 213-157-50 record with a 2.57 goals-against average (GAA), .913 save percentage (SV%) and 31 shutouts. The 6-foot-3, 213-pound native of Togliatti, Russia, won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007 and represented Russia at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Olympics.
Bryzgalov was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team in 2010 after totaling a career high 42 wins in 2009-10 with Phoenix, posting a 42-20-6 record, a 2.29 GAA, .a 920 SV% and eight shutouts in 2009-10. This season, he recorded a 5-8-5 record, 3.01 GAA, .908 SV% and one shutout in 20 games with Edmonton, and earned a 1-1-0 record, 3.03 GAA, .880 SV% in two games with Oklahoma City of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Minnesota originally acquired the fourth-round draft pick from the Buffalo Sabres on April 3, 2013, as part of the deal that brought RW Jason Pominville to the Wild.
RECENT SIGNINGS
3.4.14
MINNESOTA WILD SIGNS FREE-AGENT FORWARD
ZACK MITCHELL TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed free-agent right wing Zack Mitchell to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2014-15 season.
“Zack is an intelligent, two-way winger who is having a tremendous season for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League,” said Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr. “We’re excited to add another quality young forward to the Minnesota Wild organization.”
Mitchell, 21, (1/7/93), ranks fourth on the Storm and 18th in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 77 points (29-48=77), including nine power-play goals and six game-winning goals, in 62 games this season. The 6-foot, 184-pound native of Caledon, Ont., has also totaled a plus-45 rating and 36 penalty minutes (PIM) this season, helping Guelph earn the best record in the OHL (48-11-2-1). He’s totaled 237 points (100-137=237), a plus-23 rating and 151 PIM in 317 games during five seasons in the OHL, all with Guelph.
3.3.14
MINNESOTA WILD SIGNS FORWARD KURTIS GABRIEL TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed right wing Kurtis Gabriel to a three-year entry-level contract starting with the 2014-15 season.
“We’re very happy with Kurtis’ progress this year and look forward to him developing within our organization,” said Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr. “He’s a hard-working kid that brings an intriguing package of size, physical competitiveness and character.”
Gabriel, 20 (4/20/93), has recorded 42 points (12-30=42), including three game-winning goals, 86 penalty minutes (PIM) and a plus-4 rating in 54 games with the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound native of New Market, Ont., serves as an assistant captain and leads his team in assists, is third in PIM and fourth in scoring. He has tallied 91 points (30-61=91) and 278 PIM in 226 career WHL games during four seasons with Owen Sound. Gabriel was selected by Minnesota in the third-round (81st overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
3.1.14
MINNESOTA WILD SIGNS FREE AGENT FORWARD BRADY BRASSART TO AN ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed free agent center Brady Brassart to a three-year entry-level contract starting with the 2014-15 season.
“Brady has had a strong overage season and we are very happy that he chose to sign with the Minnesota Wild,” said Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr. “He’s a good-sized center that plays a mature two-way game. He can play in all situations and we look forward to his transition to professional hockey next season.”
Brassart, 20 (6/15/93), has collected 75 points (33-42=75) including 10 power-play goals, six game-winning goals, a plus-17 rating and 90 penalty minutes (PIM) in 62 games with the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season. The 6-foot-2, 196-pound native of Vernon, B.C., leads Calgary in scoring, is tied for first in assists and second in goals and PIM. His ranks tied for 15th in the WHL in scoring and tied for 16th in goals. He has tallied 259 points (110-149=259), 370 PIM and a plus-98 rating in 315 games during five seasons in the WHL.