The Minnesota Wild sought to enhance their roster through NHL free agency and on Sunday, they made significant signings to bolster their team. The Wild secured a three-year contract with former Dallas defenseman Greg Pateryn worth $2.25 million. They also added forwards Eric Fehr, JT Brown, and Matt Hendricks, along with goaltender Andrew Hammond.
Defenseman Nick Seeler re-signed a three-year deal, and two minor league players were also brought to the team.
Pateryn’s signing solidifies the third defensive pairing on the right-hand side, adding size and experience. The 28-year-old Pateryn played 73 games for the Stars last season, tallying 13 points and a plus-6 rating while averaging 19 minutes and 37 seconds of ice time.
Throughout his career, Pateryn has played a total of 167 games with Dallas and Montreal after being drafted by Toronto in the fifth round of the 2008 draft.
The Wild also inked a one-year, $1 million deal with veteran forward Fehr to provide stability to their fourth line.
In the previous season, Fehr split time between the Maple Leafs and Sharks, ending the season in San Jose with three goals and four points in 14 games. Fehr, known for his right-hand shot, has previously played under coach Bruce Boudreau during their time in Washington.
Hammond signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Wild. He concluded his last season with the Avalanche organization following his stint with the Senators. In his 56-game career, Hammond boasts a record of 27 wins, 15 losses, 6 overtime losses, a .923 save percentage, and a 2.31 goals-against average.
Hendricks, a former St. Cloud State player, signed a one-year deal worth $700,000 with the Wild. He played his previous season with the Jets, where he notched five goals and recorded 13 points in 60 games.
