By Giles Ferrell -
Today the Minnesota Wild and restricted free agent Mikael Granlund came to terms on a new contract, as a three-year deal worth $17.25 million ($5.75 million AAV) was agreed upon. Michael Russo of the Star Tribune was the first to break the new contract.
Granlund, 25, is coming off a career year in which he scored 69 points (26 goals-43 assists) to lead the Wild. In the postseason, the Wild's 2010 first-round pick only managed a pair of assists in the first-round exit to St. Louis. However, it was revealed after the playoffs that he had been playing through a broken hand.
A big reason for Granlund's surge last season was playing on the wing full time after getting moved there late in 2015-16. He also meshed really well with Jason Zucker and Mikko Koivu, as the trio proved to be one of the most dominant lines in hockey from November to early March.
Mikael Granlund points by season
2012-13: 8 points (2 goals-6 assists) in 27 games
2013-14: 41 points (8 goals-33 assists) in 63 games
2014-15: 39 points (8 goals-31 assists) in 68 games
2015-16: 44 points (13 goals-31 assists) in 82 games
2016-17: 69 points (26 goals-43 assists) in 81 games
With Granlund now under contract, Marcus Foligno (acquired in the Jason Pominville/Marco Scandella trade) remains the only restricted free agent without a contract on the Wild roster. The Wild have just over $4.79 million in cap space for the 2017-18 season with just the Foligno contract remaining.
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