The Wild have one less hole in their lineup to address after re-signing Brandon Duhaime to a one-year, $1.1 million contract and avoiding salary arbitration.
Wild, Brandon Duhaime agree on one-year, $1.1 million contract
The 26-year-old winger will be an unrestricted free agent after next season. Duhaime brings both speed and physical play to the Wild's forward line.
July 17, 2023 at 12:19PM
Both sides were scheduled to meet for a hearing on Thursday.
"It's awesome," Duhaime said Sunday from a family barbecue in Florida. "I've only heard nightmares about arbitration, so I was really hoping it wasn't going to go there, and I'm glad we got something done."
Duhaime filed for salary arbitration earlier this month, a decision that guaranteed a resolution. But like in most cases, he and the team reached an agreement before their hearing.
Last season was Duhaime's second with the Wild after he made the team out of training camp in 2021, and he finished with nine goals (including three game-winners) and an assist in 51 games; injury sidelined him for much of the first half and then again in March.
A speedy and physical winger, Duhaime also worked on the penalty kill, scoring once shorthanded, and he doled out 146 hits, the third-most on the team. Overall, through 131 NHL games, the Parkland, Fla., native has 15 goals and 12 assists after the Wild drafted him in the fourth round (No. 106) in 2016.
"I had good spurts there, and mentally those injuries kind of set me back a little bit," said Duhaime, who has been skating for the last few weeks. "So, I'm looking to piece together just a full 82-game season with no injuries or anything like that and just keep progressing in the right direction."
Like Duhaime, goaltender Filip Gustavsson also elected for arbitration.
Gustavsson's hearing is set for Aug. 4. He and defenseman Calen Addison remain unsigned, and their next deals could complete the Wild's offseason business.
At the end of his new contract, Duhaime, 26, will be eligible to become a free agent who can sign anywhere, but he can "absolutely" see himself sticking with the Wild beyond the upcoming season.
"I love this team," Duhaime said. "I love the staff. I love playing for them. I love all my teammates.
"I can't picture myself playing anywhere else. I'd be real excited if they want me to stay."
The star forward came back from a brief injury absence, and two goals from Frederick Gaudreau helped Minnesota to another road victory.
