Wild reportedly sign Bouchard

Jul 26, 2008 - 2:30 PM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Wild have tentatively agreed to a five-year, $20.4 million contract with right wing Pierre-Marc Bouchard, according to a report posted Satursay by the Star Tribune.

Citing an interview with Wild assistant general manager Tom Lynn, the Star Tribune also reported that the contract includes "verbal assurance" from GM Doug Risebrough that Bouchard will not be traded for at least two years.

"If (Bouchard) signs a multi-year deal, Doug is willing to commit to him personally that the Wild would not trade him for at least two years," Lynn told the newspaper.

Bouchard, who was slated for a salary arbitration hearing Monday morning, appeared in 81 games for the Wild last season, scoring 13 goals and registering a team-leading 50 assists.

The eighth overall draft selection in 2002, Bouchard has spent his entire five-year career in Minnesota, scoring 61 goals and 221 points in 354 career games. The 24-year-old Quebec native has scored at least 57 points each of the past three seasons.