ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild are losing their shootout specialist.
Multiple reports indicate forward Erik Christensen has signed with a Czech team, HC Lev Praha, in the Kontinental Hockey League. Christensen, 28, was an unrestricted free agent after being acquired by Minnesota in February for center Casey Wellman. The Wild will receive a conditional seventh-round draft pick from the Rangers because Christensen wasn't re-signed.
Christensen got off to a slow start with Minnesota, going without a point in his first 15 games with the team. But he scored six goals and had one assist in his final 14 games with the team.
Playing in just 49 total games last season, Christensen had five shootout goals, three with Minnesota. He ranks third all-time in NHL history in shootout goals with 29 and has the third-best success rate ever at 53.7 percent. He converted five of his nine attempts last season.
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