Minnesota signs.
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 3:25 pm
UPDATED with Boudreau quotes on the bottom
The Wild struck out on St. Louis captain David Backes but has signed former Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal to a three-year, $10.5 million contract. That's an annual cap hit of $3.5 million.
The Wild has also brought back right wing Chris Stewart on a two-year deal worth $1.15 million per and has signed former San Jose Sharks goalie Alex Stalock, who played at Minnesota-Duluth, to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 ($300,000 in the minors) to be the Wild's so-called third goalie and start in Iowa.
The Wild also looks like it may bring back veteran Matt Cullen on a one-year deal.
Staal, 31, who hails from Thunder Bay, Ontario, has scored 325 goals and 781 points in 929 games. He won a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006. Drafted second overall in 2003.
Highlights from Staal's conference call with the media:
On his mind-set: "I'm super excited, it's a team that I kind of had on my radar for a little while now knowing I was going to be in this position ... [i was] looking for spots and opportunities where I could be put in position to play my best hockey. Minnesota was right up there.
"[there were a] lot of moving parts, but glad it worked out where it did. This is a team that wants to win and expects to win and all those things."
On his struggles the past two seasons: "The way the last year went and the one before that, for me in my mind there's a lot of circumstances that go along with it why they went the way they did, but I believe I'm still a very good player. I've scored a lot of goals and a lot of points in the league. I can be a contributor in a team's top six. I'm going to get an opportunity with a new coach and a team that's hungry to win and hungry to be a top team."
On playing with Zach Parise: "I talked to Zach a couple of days ago, he reached out to me. When it was the other way around, I reached out to him. I feel like our games can match well. We are both 200 foot players that can play both ends of the rink. I have that same work ethic and drive that he does. Those are things you look at as a free agent, to play with guys like him and other guys they have there."
On coach Bruce Boudreau: "He had some different opportunities when he was hired in Minnesota, and his message was they want to win and I want to win, and that's why he wanted to go there. For me, it's the same. I want to go to an organization and a team that will do whatever it takes. Hearing what he has to say, I've played against Bruce's teams for a number of years, and feel like I already know him. The opportunity was too good to pass up, and to play with him is something I'm looking forward to.
"He's about pace, and about attack. He puts his players in position for them to be successful. He's a passionate guy who has won everywhere he's gone. An extremely hard worker and a guy you want to play hard for."
On being from Thunder Bay: "It's the closest NHL city to where I grew up. I'm sure I'm going to have a lot more weekend visitors than I had in the past. I came to Minneapolis St. Paul a lot as a kid playing in youth tournaments. Love the area, always have, since I was a younger player."
On other teams: "I had conversations with about four or five leading up to today. Minnesota was high on my list before the day even started."
The Wild struck out on St. Louis captain David Backes but has signed former Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal to a three-year, $10.5 million contract. That's an annual cap hit of $3.5 million.
The Wild has also brought back right wing Chris Stewart on a two-year deal worth $1.15 million per and has signed former San Jose Sharks goalie Alex Stalock, who played at Minnesota-Duluth, to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 ($300,000 in the minors) to be the Wild's so-called third goalie and start in Iowa.
The Wild also looks like it may bring back veteran Matt Cullen on a one-year deal.
Staal, 31, who hails from Thunder Bay, Ontario, has scored 325 goals and 781 points in 929 games. He won a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006. Drafted second overall in 2003.
Highlights from Staal's conference call with the media:
On his mind-set: "I'm super excited, it's a team that I kind of had on my radar for a little while now knowing I was going to be in this position ... [i was] looking for spots and opportunities where I could be put in position to play my best hockey. Minnesota was right up there.
"[there were a] lot of moving parts, but glad it worked out where it did. This is a team that wants to win and expects to win and all those things."
On his struggles the past two seasons: "The way the last year went and the one before that, for me in my mind there's a lot of circumstances that go along with it why they went the way they did, but I believe I'm still a very good player. I've scored a lot of goals and a lot of points in the league. I can be a contributor in a team's top six. I'm going to get an opportunity with a new coach and a team that's hungry to win and hungry to be a top team."
On playing with Zach Parise: "I talked to Zach a couple of days ago, he reached out to me. When it was the other way around, I reached out to him. I feel like our games can match well. We are both 200 foot players that can play both ends of the rink. I have that same work ethic and drive that he does. Those are things you look at as a free agent, to play with guys like him and other guys they have there."
On coach Bruce Boudreau: "He had some different opportunities when he was hired in Minnesota, and his message was they want to win and I want to win, and that's why he wanted to go there. For me, it's the same. I want to go to an organization and a team that will do whatever it takes. Hearing what he has to say, I've played against Bruce's teams for a number of years, and feel like I already know him. The opportunity was too good to pass up, and to play with him is something I'm looking forward to.
"He's about pace, and about attack. He puts his players in position for them to be successful. He's a passionate guy who has won everywhere he's gone. An extremely hard worker and a guy you want to play hard for."
On being from Thunder Bay: "It's the closest NHL city to where I grew up. I'm sure I'm going to have a lot more weekend visitors than I had in the past. I came to Minneapolis St. Paul a lot as a kid playing in youth tournaments. Love the area, always have, since I was a younger player."
On other teams: "I had conversations with about four or five leading up to today. Minnesota was high on my list before the day even started."