Wild sign Eriksson Ek to monster 8-year contract!

This is the first time the Wild have made use of the right to sign a player to an eight-year extension since the rule has been implemented by the NHL.

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Published 2 years ago
Wild sign Eriksson Ek to monster 8-year contract!
Zuma Press

The Minnesota Wild has done it. 

Joel Eriksson Ek signed an eight-year, $42 million contract with the Wild on Friday. It has an average annual value of $5.25 million.

This is the first time the Wild have made use of the right to sign a player to an eight-year extension since the rule has been implemented by the NHL, but the team is sure glad to have him long-term. GM Bill Guerin can now takes this task off his to-do list for this offseason. 

The 24-year-old forward set NHL career highs in goals (19), points (30), plus-minus (plus-16) and face-off percentage (47.1) in 56 regular-season games with Minnesota this season. 

"Of course I want to be here." Eriksson Ek said June 2, per NHL.com. "I think it's pretty clear I like it. I've been here for four years now, 4 1/2 almost, and it's been nothing but great. The fans, the city, and everybody on the team is amazing.

"I love it here. We have a great team. I really feel like we can win. I felt that before every game, we could win, and just take this as a learning (experience) and keep getting better."

Eriksson Ek averaged an NHL career-high 17:03 of ice time per game this season and finished fourth in voting for the Selke Trophy, for the best defensive forward in the league. He was second among Wild forwards in hits (105), blocked shots (37) and shorthanded time on ice per game (1:40), and had 21 takeaways.

This is a great sign for Minny! 

Source: TSN