The free agency period began today for the NHL, but before it opened, the Minnesota Wild made some key re-signings.
The first move they made was to re-sign their top center Mikael Granlund to a two-year, $6 million contract that barely beat the deadline. Had they not reached a deal, Granlund would have became a restricted free agent. Last season, Granlund scored eight goals, including two game winning goals, with 31 assists in 68 games for the Wild.
The Wild then re-signed defenseman Nate Prosser to a two-year deal worth $1,250,000. Last season, Prosser scored two goals in 63 games for the Wild. Prosser is a Minnesota native from Elk River, Minnesota. He went to Colorado College, where he scored eight goals in his three seasons at the school.
They also signed another Minnesota native in Ryan Carter to a one-year deal worth $625,000. Carter is from White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Carter signed as a free agent last October after bouncing around between the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, and the New Jersey Devils. This season, he scored three goals for the Wild, with ten assists in 53 games.
They also signed free agent defenseman Mike Reilly to a two-year entry level contract. Reilly attended the University of Minnesota, and is another Minnesota native, from Chanhassen. At the University of Minnesota, Reilly was named a Hobey Baker Award (given to college hockey's best player) finalist this past season.
"Signing with the Wild just felt right to me," Reilly said. "I'm excited to come in and learn from the veterans and keep improving as a player."
Reilly will wear the number four jersey with the Wild.
These move come on the heels of the WIld's second consecutive playoff loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, a team that the Wild are trying to finally beat when it matters.