MINNESOTA WILD MAKES QUALIFYING OFFERS TO SEVEN PLAYERS
Jun 30, 2015MINNESOTA WILD MAKES QUALIFYING OFFERS TO SEVEN PLAYERS
Iowa’s Blum, Bulmer, Gustafsson and Knight Among the Group
DES MOINES, IA – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher on Tuesday announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has made qualifying offers to the following players: D Jonathon Blum, RW Brett Bulmer, D Christian Folin, C Mikael Granlund, G Johan Gustafsson, C Erik Haula and RW Jared Knight.
The team did not make qualifying offers to restricted free agents LW Curt Gogol and D Colton Jobke.
Qualifying Offers:
The current team must extend a "qualifying offer" to a restricted free agent to retain negotiating rights to that player. If the qualifying offer is not made, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent. If the player rejects a qualifying offer, he remains a restricted free agent.
Blum is a six-year veteran who has spent the last two seasons with the Iowa Wild and Minnesota Wild. He is Iowa’s all-time leader in goals, assists and points among all defensemen. In 2014-15, he set a team mark for goals in a season by a blueliner with 12. He finished the year with a team mark for points in a season by a defender with 37 in 66 games played. Blum also picked up an assist in four games with Minnesota. Over the course of two seasons, Blum has 19 goals and 47 assists for 66 points with Iowa.
Bulmer wrapped up his third full season of pro hockey in 2014-15, his second season with Iowa. He sits fifth on the team’s all-time games played list with 96 appearances. Over the course of two seasons, the winger has 15 goals and 35 points.
Right wing Jared Knight was acquired at the trade deadline for forward Zack Phillips on Mar. 1. He played in 16 games with the Baby Wild, scoring three goals and totaling seven points. The three-year veteran has 123 AHL games to his credit, having played in Providence from 2012-14. Over the course of his AHL career, Knight has ten goals and 34 points.
Goalie Johan Gustafsson is a two-year pro that spent the last few seasons with the Iowa Wild. From 2013-15, Gustafsson posted a 20-43-5 mark with a 3.21 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. He recorded the first win and shutout in team history, posting 27 saves for the 1-0 shutout in the team’s inaugural game at Wells Fargo Arena on Oct. 12, 2013.
Defenseman Christian Folin recently wrapped up his first pro season, splitting time between Minnesota and Iowa. Folin played in 40 games for Minnesota with eight assists and ten points. He also suited up in 13 games for Iowa, scoring two goals and totaling four points.
Haula is a two-year pro, recently removed from his first full NHL season with 72 games played, totaling seven goals and 14 points. He split his rookie season between Iowa and Minnesota in 2013-14. As a rookie, he scored 14 goals and totaled 27 points in 31 games with Iowa. He also played in 46 games for Minnesota, collecting six goals and nine assists.
Granlund finished fifth on the team in points with 41 in 63 games played. He was third overall on the team with 33 assists. The three-year veteran has played in 158 NHL games for Minnesota, scoring 18 goals and setting up 70 others for 88 career points.
Iowa begins its third season in the AHL this fall. The team will host Opening Night on Saturday, Oct. 10. Fans may purchase single game tickets multiple ways, either through the team's website – www.Iowawild.com, Wells Fargo Arena box office or www.iowaeventscenter.com. Tickets are available online at www.iowawild.com under the single game tickets tab. Fans may also purchase tickets by calling 1-866-553-2457 or by visiting www.iowaeventscenter.com. In order to purchase group tickets (10 or more), please call the Iowa Wild ticketing department at 515-564-8700. Fans interested in buying full season, or smaller season packages may call the Iowa Wild front office at 515-564-8700.
The Iowa Wild 2014-15 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center, it runs from October through April. Fans may purchase seats to see any of the team’s 38 regular season home games at Wells Fargo Arena. Season tickets to see the Wild play its 2015-16 season at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 per game. For more information on tickets, including ticket plans and group seating, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com.
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