The Minnesota Wild started what is expected to be a hectic day around the NHL by trading defenseman Justin Falk to the New York Rangers.
Minnesota, which doesn't currently own a first-round pick in Sunday's draft, acquired forward Benn Ferriero and a sixth-round draft pick in the 2014 NHL Draft in exchange for Falk, who is a restricted free agent. Falk, 24, had three assists and 40 penalty minutes in 36 regular-season games for the Wild last season and played in four playoff games.
Ferriero, 26, is also a restricted free agent. But Minnesota will likely extend the 5-foot-11, 195-pound forward prior to the start of free agency on July 5.
Ferriero played four games with New York last season, tallying one assist. He had eight goals and 22 assists in 57 games in the American Hockey League last season, playing with Connecticut and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Rangers had acquired Ferriero from Pittsburgh in January.
Ferriero has 14 goals and nine assists in 96 career NHL games, spending his first three seasons with the San Jose Sharks. Falk had 15 points and 100 penalty minutes in 108 career games with Minnesota, which made him a fourth-round pick in the 2007 draft.
Brodin makes all-rookie team: Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin, who reportedly finished fourth in the Calder Trophy voting for the league's rookie of the year, was named to the NHL All-Rookie team this weekend.
Brodin, 19, was the league's youngest defenseman last season. A 2011 first-round draft pick by Minnesota, Brodin had two goals, nine assists and was a plus-3 in 45 games last season, making his professional debut after coming over from his native Sweden.
Joining Brodin on the all-rookie team was Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad, Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher, Edmonton Oilers defenseman Justin Schultz and St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen.
Bouchard won't sign before free agency: Forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard, the Wild's longest-tenured player, won't re-sign with Minnesota prior to the start of free agency, according to a tweet from Bouchard's agent Allan Walsh.
Bouchard, an original first-round draft choice by the Wild in 2002, will be an unrestricted free agent. Bouchard, 29, is second in team history in games played (565), first in power-play assists (104), second in assists (241) and third in scoring (347 points), and game-winning goals (19).
Bouchard, Matt Cullen and Brett Clark are Minnesota's unrestricted free agents.
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