Jul 26, 2008 - 11:03 AM
0 shoutsST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Wild avoided salary arbitration with Pierre-Marc Bouchard on Saturday, re-signing the right wing to a new five-year contract worth $20.4 million.
Bouchard, who previously had stated his desire to remain in Minnesota, was scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing on Monday morning.
But courtesy of Saturday's deal, Bouchard, a former first-round draft pick who has spent his entire career with the Wild, evidently has secured his future in the Twin Cities.
Citing an interview with Wild assistant general manager Tom Lynn, the Star Tribune 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, 24, appeared in 81 games for the Wild last season, scoring 13 goals and registering a franchise-record 50 assists. He also scored two goals and added two assists this past postseason.
The eighth overall draft selection in 2002, Bouchard has scored 61 goals and 221 points over his five-year career with the Wild. The Quebec native has scored at least 57 points each of the past three seasons.
"Pierre-Marc is just 24 years old, and the best years of his career are ahead of him," Risebrough said. "He is a good example of how drafting and developing your own players leads to team success. This is why the Wild was willing to make such a substantial and long-term commitment to him."
