Wild, Niederreiter agree to 5-year, $26.25M deal

Jul 31, 2017 - 12:51 AM The Minnesota Wild agreed to terms with restricted free-agent forward Nino Niederreiter on a five-year, $26.25 million contract through the 2021-22 season on Sunday.

The deal, which carries a $5.25 cap hit, will pay Niederreiter $4.6 million in 2017-18, $6,075,000 in 2018-19, $5.85 million in 2019-20, $4.25 million in 2020-21 and $5,475,000 in 2021-22.

"Nino has had a big impact on our club during the last four seasons, and we're very happy to know that will continue in the future," Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said in a press release. "He's grown into his role as one of the offensive leaders of this group and his shot and net-front presence will continue to play a major role in our team's success. Nino has a great attitude and personality, and we know our fans will be as happy as we are about this news."

The 24-year-old Niederreiter had 25 goals and 32 assists in 82 games last season, setting career highs in points, goals, assists, plus/minus rating (plus-17), power-play goals (eight), power-play assists (six), power-play points, shots on goal (186) and multi-point games (14). The 6-foot-2, 211-pound native of Switzerland was one of four Wild players to appear in every game last season. He led the team in power-play goals, ranked second in multi-point games, third in goals, shots on goal and hits (120), and fourth in points.

Niederreiter has 83 goals and 90 assists in 325 games during four seasons with Minnesota, becoming the only Swiss-born player to ever record at least 20 goals in a single NHL season -- a feat he has accomplished each of the past three seasons.

Niederreiter was originally selected by the New York Islanders in the first round in 2010. He was acquired by Minnesota from the Islanders in exchange for Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round selection in 2013.