Wild add depth through free agency

With NHL free agency opening on Saturday, July 1st the Minnesota Wild were active in filling their roster.

After making a trade on June 30th to clear cap space the Minnesota Wild quickly began filling their roster with two-way deals. A two-way deal allows the Wild to call a player up and send them down between the NHL and AHL without putting them on waivers. This allows the Wild to retain depth when they send guys up and down.

Minnesota has signed seven players since free agency opened and will be looking to add a veteran center to the mix for 2017-18.

Forwards:

Cal O’Reilly (6’0″ 193 lbs) – O’Reilly signed a two-year two-way contract after spending last season with the Buffalo Sabres. He only played in 11 NHL games last season and 31 the past two years. He will add depth for the Iowa Wild with a shot to appear in some games in the NHL this season.

Landon Ferraro (6’0″ 186 lbs) – Ferraro has been on the Wild radar for a couple years as they tried to put a waiver claim on him in 2015. He signed a two-year two-way contract this offseason with the Wild. Landon didn’t make an NHL appearance last season with St. Louis and will be 26 when the season begins.

Kyle Rau (5’8″ 178 lbs) – Rau is a name many Minnesotans will recognize as he played for Eden Prairie before playing for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was named Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey in 2011 and was drafted in the third round by the Florida Panthers. Kyle posted three points (2-1) in 24 games with the Panthers last season. He is on a one-year two-way deal.

Defensemen:

Ryan Murphy (5’11” 185 lbs) – Murphy spent his first five seasons in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes. He signed a one-year two-way deal with the Wild and was the 12th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. Murphy is a right-handed defenseman, something the Wild are looking to add for this season.

Kyle Quincey (6’2″ 216 lbs) – Quincey signed a one-year contract for $1.25 million. He played in 73 games last season with the New Jersey Devils and the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had 95 hits and 96 blocked shots which will translate well to the Wild’s style of play.

Alex Grant (6’4″ 205 lbs) – Grant is a big body who signed a one-year two-way deal with the Wild. He was second in goals scored for AHL defensemen last season with seventeen. Grant was drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 NHL Draft by the Penguins. He will provide organizational depth.

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Goalies:

Niklas Svedberg (6’0″ 176 lbs) – Svedberg played last season in the KHL with Salavat Yulaev. He will add to the number of Swedish players on the Wild with a one-year two-way deal. He will compete with Alex Stalock for the back-up goaltender spot.

Looking forward:

The Wild are still searching for a veteran center to add to the team and one name that continues to come up is Matt Cullen. Cullen just won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins this past season and may be looking at retirement as well. He would be the perfect addition to the team and a great veteran presence for the plethora of young talent the Wild have.

Next: Wild Flip Scandella and Pominville to Sabres

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