Wild forward Mikael Granlund agrees to 3-year, $17.25 million contract
Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher is two for two this summer when it comes to avoiding potentially costly arbitration hearings.
The Wild agreed to sign 25-year-old forward Mikael Granlund to a three-year, $17.25 million contract Tuesday just days ahead of an arbitration hearing between team and player.
"Mikael has been an important part of our club for the last five years, and he showed a great amount of growth with an impressive performance last season," Fletcher said in a statement.
The deal pays out $5.25 million during the 2017-18 season, $5.5 million in 2018-19 and $6.5 million in 2019-20.
Arbitration hearings -- which can be contentious -- pit restricted free agents against their respective teams, as the two sides argue over the salary the player should be paid.
It's Minnesota's second brush with an arbitrator this week after signing forward Nino Niederreiter to a five-year, $26.25 million contract over the weekend.
Granlund broke out last season, leading the Wild in scoring with a career-high 69 points while also registering career highs in assists (43) and goals (26).
The No. 9 overall pick in the 2010 draft, Granlund signed with the Wild in 2012 following a four-year career in Finland's Liiga.
