Wild sign Cramarossa, Mermis to one-year, two-way deals

The Iowa Wild are stocking up for the American Hockey League season, after their NHL affiliate have signed forward Joseph Cramarossa and defenseman Dakota Mermis to one-year, two-way contracts.

Cramarossa, 27, has been making his way through a few AHL teams and most recently with the Rockford Ice Hogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ affiliate. The Markham, Ont. native scored five goals and 12 points through 42 games.

Prior to his stint in Rockford, Cramarossa played three seasons for the Wilkes-Berre Penguins, the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Wild GM Bill Guerin’s former employer.

Mermis, 26, played 19 games at the University of Denver before heading to the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights. The undrafted defenseman has spent his last few years bouncing between the NHL and AHL with the Arizona Coyotes and New Jersey Devils organizations. Through the last three seasons, he appeared in 20 NHL games.

After locking up their starting goaltender position — signing Cam Talbot to a three-year deal — the Wild have clearly focused on getting solid depth through the organization and especially their minor league in Iowa. Some NHL experience is key and staying relatively young, Minnesota appear have their sights set on a specific profile.