The Minnesota Wild locked up a key piece to their future Thursday by agreeing with right wing Nino Niederreiter, a restricted free agent, on a three-year contract. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the contract is for $8 million over the three years.
Niederreiter, who was acquired from the Islanders in a June 30, 2013 trade, was tied for third on the Wild in goals last season with 14. He also had 22 assists, a plus-12 rating and 44 penalty minutes while playing in 81 games.
The 22-year-old native of Chur, Switzerland also had three goals and six points in 13 playoff games, including the Game 7 overtime game-winner at Colorado on April 30. Niederreiter also had a game-winning goal in Game 4 vs. Chicago on May 9.
Neiderreiter was the fifth-overall pick of the 2010 draft by the Islanders. However, after playing 64 games for New York from 2010-12, he played exclusively for the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2012-13, recording 28 goals and 50 points.
Neiderreiter had reportedly been negotiating with a team in Russia's KHL, but instead will be staying in Minnesota.
"Im excited and happy to stay part of the WILD family :)" Neiderreiter tweeted out Thursday.
