Wild sign center Granlund, defenseman Reilly to deals
The Minnesota Wild finished a drawn-out negotiation with Mikael Granlund by locking up the center with a two-year deal on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Granlund had eight goals and 31 assists last season. He ranked third on the team in plus-minus rating with a plus-17 and the team hopes he continues his path to becoming one of the team's top playmakers. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported that it's worth $6 million.
The shorter deal was a way for the two sides to stay together while gaining a better idea of Granlund's long-term potential.
He was hailed as a future star when he came over from Finland three seasons ago and looked poised to make a leap after an impressive playoff performance in 2014 and a dazzling role with Team Finland at the Sochi Olympics.
But Granlund didn't quite make the leap that was expected of him last season, leading to a lot of back-and-forth between Wild GM Chuck Fletcher and Granlund's agent, Todd Diamond.
In the end, the two sides were able to come to an agreement on a bridge deal to keep him in Minnesota. Granlund has played three seasons with the Wild since coming over from Finland. He has 88 points and has scored six goals in 13 playoff games.
The Wild also announced two-year deals with defensemen Nate Prosser and Mike Reilly and a one-year deal with forward Ryan Carter.
The 29-year-old Prosser, who grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of Elk River, had two goals and five assists in a career-high 63 games last season for the Wild.
Reilly had six goals and 36 assists in 39 games as a junior for the University of Minnesota last season. He grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen.
Carter had three goals and 10 assists in 53 games for the Wild.
