The Minnesota Wild have signed Louis Belpedio to a one-year two-way, contract, according to PuckPedia. The deal will be worth $700K in the NHL.
Belpedio, 24, was the team’s final restricted free agent to sign (save for Brennan Menell, who signed in the KHL). He was also arbitration-eligible but chose not to file, signing this deal
As PuckPedia notes, Belpedio is a likely candidate for Group VI unrestricted free agency in 2021 as he would need to play in 77 NHL games this season to avoid the designation. While the depth defenseman is a useful player to keep in the organization, it’s hard to see him becoming (and remaining) a regular in 2020-21.
Instead, it is much more likely that he serves as an extra defenseman or is sent to the minor leagues where he has spent each of the last two seasons. In 62 games with the Iowa Wild this year, he recorded 20 points and 102 penalty minutes.