Wild continue signings; Nick Bjugstad inks one-year deal as Kirill Kaprizov questions loom
Anthony Scultore
|
Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin is working hard this offseason to lock up his free agents. The biggest one completed so far was Joel Eriksson-Ek last week. Now he’s taken care of another.
Nick Bjugstad signed a one-year, $900,000 deal to remain with the Minnesota Wild rather than testing free agency later this month.
Bjugstad, 28, recorded 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 44 games this season and is a former first-round pick.
He was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sept. 11, 2020. He has played in 483 regular-season games with the Wild, Penguins and Florida Panthers.
The Panthers drafted Bjugstad 19th overall in 2010.
Wild meeting with Kirill Kaprizov camp this week; Kevin Fiala also outstanding
Kirill Kaprizov led all rookies in goals (27), points (51) and power-play goals (eight) in 55 games this past season. His totals in goals, assists (24) and points served as records by a rookie in franchise history. The 24 year-old is reportedly looking for a shorter deal, while the Wild would like to lock in their budding star to a long-term contract.
“I’m confident in (Kaprizov) and his wanting to be here and his willingness to play in Minnesota,” Guerin said Saturday, per NHL.com.
“You’ve got to understand the other side and where they’re coming from,” Guerin said. “They’re trying to accomplish something and so are we. I think when there’s maybe a bit of a disagreement, it just takes a little bit more time to come to a compromise.
“It’s not just them not wanting to take what we’re offering, it’s us, too, and we have to see it that way. It takes two sides to make a deal, and it just could take a little bit longer.”
Guerin also said he’s working on a new deal for Kevin Fiala. He cited that t will depend on what the team can afford to pay, for the 24 year-old RFA.
–Field Level Media contributed to this article