Wild sign defenseman Jon Lizotte to two-way deal

The Minnesota Wild continue to add blueliners to the organization, and this one’s got some local appeal, signing former St. Cloud State Husky and Grand Forks native Jon Lizotte to a one-year, two-way contract for $750K/$175K AAV.

The six-foot, 209 pound NoDak native comes from the Pittsburgh Penguins organization and has taken advantage of every chance he’s been given over his hockey career. Figuring his hockey career was nearing it’s end in juniors and feeling he was destined to run the family fireworks business out in Grand Fork, former SCSU head coach Bob Motzko invited Lizotte to come out as a last-minute walk-on tryout. After four years as a Husky, he signed on with the Pens’ AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as an undrafted free agent, and was invited to the Penguins training camp back in 2019. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Lizotte scored three goals and added 23 assists over 91 contests.

The rugged, stay-at-home defenseman will have a chance to pick up minutes in Iowa, filling a role that will likely be vacated by Calen Addison. Lizotte is unlikely to see much time in St. Paul unless filling in for injury, but his signing does give both the Iowa and Minnesota Wild some defensive depth options.