12:00 PM: Russo tweets that the deal for Zucker is indeed two-years for a total of $4MM. He’ll earn $2MM in each season.
10:55 AM: According to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, the Wild are close to deals with upcoming RFAs Jason Zucker and Tyler Graovac. Elliotte Friedman chimes in with a report that would see Zucker earn around $2MM per season on the bridge deal that Russo originally stated.
The 24-year old Zucker scored 13 goals and 23 points this season, after breaking out in 2014-15 with 21 goals. The former second-round pick from California has shown some promise the last couple of seasons and will continue to work his way into the top-six in Minnesota. His versatility as both a scoring winger and penalty killer gives the Wild a valuable player for a reasonable price.
Graovac is a monster centerman that Minnesota drafted in the seventh round and had seen steady development at the AHL level until an injury plagued 2015-16 saw him post just 16 points in 39 games. He’ll still be hard pressed to make it to the NHL, but with his 6’5″ frame perhaps he’ll be a late-bloomer.