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Daniel Winnik signs one-year, $660k contract with Minnesota Wild

By Cara Bahniuk (@carabahniuk) on October 4, 2017 | 1 Comment

After completing a professional try out and soliciting attention from several other NHL clubs, Daniel Winnik has agreed to a one-year, $660k contract with the Minnesota Wild.

On Monday, Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said the team could afford a player at the salary of $866,000. Typically players who sign PTOs make league minimum or close to league minimum. Winnik’s contract matches the one Alex Chiasson signed today with the Capitals.

Speaking with The Athletic’s Michael Russo, Winnik acknowledged he thought it was “nuts” he wasn’t signed over the summer.

“Realistically, I’ve been extremely consistent over the last six years and pretty much my whole career,” Winnik said to Russo.

“I don’t think I’ve shown any decline at all,” Winnik continued. “At my age, I’m not slow. It’s not like my numbers have dipped. They actually got better last year.”

Winnik was confident a deal with the Wild would get done, and now he will debut in green at the Detroit Red Wings Thursday at 7:30 PM.

More from the Wild:

Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed forward Daniel Winnik to a one-year, $660,000 contract.

Winnik, 32 (3/6/85), tallied one assist and 15 shots on goal in five preseason games with Minnesota. He recorded 25 points and 49 penalty minutes (PIM) in 72 games last season with the Washington Capitals and registered career-highs with 12 goals and three game-winning tallies. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound native of Toronto, Ont., ranked second amongst team forwards in shorthanded TOI/game at 2:35 and tied his career-best with two shorthanded goals.

Winnik set career highs with 25 assists, 34 points and a plus-23 rating in 79 games during the 2014-15 season with Toronto and Pittsburgh.

Winnik owns 228 points (76-152=228) and 340 PIM in 717 career NHL contests during 10 seasons with Arizona, Colorado, San Jose, Anaheim, Toronto, Pittsburgh and Washington. He has appeared in 58 career Stanley Cup Playoffs games and his team has advanced to the playoffs in each of the last six seasons.

Winnik recorded 95 points (37-58=95) and 82 PIM during three seasons at the University of New Hampshire (2003-06) and was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team in 2006. He was originally selected by the Coyotes in the ninth round (265th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Winnik will wear sweater #26 with Minnesota.

Minnesota opens the 2017-18 season at Detroit on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBCSN and KFAN 100.3 FM.

Headline Photo: @mnwild