WILD BUSY IN FREE AGENCY WITH BIG SIGNINGS
Jul 2, 2014RECAP OF MINNESOTA WILD FREE AGENCY MOVES
MINNESOTA WILD AGREES TO TERMS WITH
LW THOMAS VANEK ON A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher on Tuesday announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with left wing Thomas Vanek on a three-year contract.
“Thomas is an elite offensive talent who showed a strong desire to play in Minnesota,” said Fletcher. “We are excited to welcome him to our organization.”
Since entering the NHL in 2005-06, Vanek, 30 (1/19/84), ranks eighth amongst all NHL players in goals scored (277) and third in power-play goals (113). The 6-foot-2, 217-pound native of Vienna, Austria, has totaled 556 points (277-279=556) and a plus-41 rating in 663 regular-season games during nine NHL seasons, including 68 points (27-41=68) in 78 games with Buffalo, the New York Islanders and Montreal in 2013-14. He’s added 30 points (20-10=30) in 53 NHL playoff games.
Vanek totaled 113 points (57-56=113) in 83 games during two seasons with the University of Minnesota (2002-04), helping the Golden Gophers claim the 2003 NCAA title while being named NCAA Championship Tournament MVP. He was selected fifth overall by Buffalo in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, becoming the highest Austrian-born player ever drafted in the NHL, before garnering NHL Second All-Star Team honors in 2006-07 and being named an NHL All-Star in 2009. He spent the majority of his career with Buffalo (2005-14), ranking fourth in Sabres history in power-play goals scored (106) and game-winning goals (41), fifth in goals (254), 10th in points (497) and 15th in games played (598). He was acquired by the New York Islanders on Oct 27, 2013 before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens on March 5, 2014.
MINNESOTA WILD SIGNS DEFENSEMAN STU BICKEL
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher on Tuesday announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed defenseman Stu Bickel to a one-year, two-way contract.
Bickel, 27 (10/2/86), collected eight points (1-7=8) and 85 penalty minutes (PIM) in 24 games with the Harford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2013-14. The 6-foot-4, 207-pound native of Chanhassen, Minn., appeared in 67 games with the New York Rangers from 2011-13 and recorded nine assists and 157 PIM. He also skated in 18 playoff games with the Rangers in 2011-12. Bickel played one season at the University of Minnesota in 2007-08 and notched seven points (1-6=7) and 92 PIM.
Bickel played for the Iowa Chops in 2008-09, picking up one assist and 51 penalty minutes. Bickel has played in 178 career AHL games for the Chops, San Antonio Rampage, Syracuse Crunch, Hartford / Connecticut WolfPack. Over his AHL career, Bickel has six goals and 23 assists for 29 points.
MINNESOTA WILD SIGNS D GUILLAUME GELINAS TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher on Tuesday announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed defenseman Guillaume Gelinas (pronounced GEE-OHM ZHEHL-ih-nuh) to a three-year, entry-level contract.
“Guillaume completed his junior career by having a tremendous season in the QMJHL,” said Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr. “We are excited that he is joining the Wild organization and look forward to watching him work his way up the pro ranks.”
Gelinas, 21 (6/14/93), earned the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the top defenseman in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2013-14 after totaling 92 points (23-69=92) and a plus-24 rating in 67 regular-season games with Val-d’Or. The native of Quebec City, Que., ranked seventh in the league and led all defensemen in scoring, totaling seven goals and 18 points more than any other blueliner during the regular season. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound defensemen helped the Foreurs win the President’s Cup as QMJHL Playoff Champions, totaling 34 points (11-23=34) and a plus-11 rating in 24 playoff contests – seven goals and 10 points more than any other defenseman in the playoffs.
In parts of five seasons (2009-14) with Val-d’Or, Gelinas totaled 193 points (43-150=193) in 275 regular-season games. The blueliner totaled 38 points (13-25=38) in 38 games during four postseasons with the Foreurs (2011-14).
MINNESOTA WILD AGREES TO TERMS WITH FORWARD BRETT SUTTER
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher on Tuesday announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with forward Brett Sutter on a two-year, two-way contract.
Sutter, 27 (6/2/87), collected two points (1-1=2) in 17 games with the Carolina Hurricanes and tallied 44 points (15-29=44) in 62 games with the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2013-14 campaign. He ranked fourth on the Checkers in scoring and served as captain of the team the last three seasons. The 6-foot, 200-pound native of Viking, Alta., has collected seven points (2-5=7) and 36 penalty minutes (PIM) in 54 career NHL games with Calgary and Carolina. He was originally selected by Calgary in the sixth round (179th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Sutter is a veteran of 467 AHL games with Quad City, Abbotsford and the Charlotte Checkers. The 27-year old has 70 goals and 122 assists for 192 points.
MINNESOTA WILD AGREES TO TERMS WITH FORWARD JOEL RECHLICZ
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher on Wednesday announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with forward Joel Rechlicz (pronounced REHK-lihj) on a one-year, two-way contract.
Rechlicz, 27 (6/14/87), collected two points (1-1=2) and 87 penalty minutes (PIM) in 25 games with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2013-14. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound native of Brookfield, Wis., has recorded one assist and 105 PIM in 26 career NHL games with the New York Islanders and Washington. He has notched six points (3-3=6) and 886 PIM in 187 career AHL matches with Albany, Bridgeport, Hershey and Portland. He ranked second in the AHL with 267 PIM in 2011-12 and was named Hershey’s AHL Man of the Year.
IOWA WILD PLAYERS ON THE MOVE
Iowa Wild defenseman Jon Landry signed a two-way NHL contract with the Washington Capiitals / Hershey Bears.
Iowa Wild defenseman Steven Kampfer signed a two-way NHL contract with the New York Rangers / Hartford WolfPack
Iowa Wild defenseman Zach Miskovic signed an AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs