Wild sign veteran center Ryan Hartman to three-year extension

A depth player upon arrival, Ryan Hartman now centers the Wild's top line.

His salary has gone through a similar transformation.

After taking a pay cut, Hartman was given a raise on Saturday with a three-year, $12 million extension that kicks in next season.

"He did what he had to do to put himself in a really good position," President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin said, "and he's performed."

This deal comes a week after the Wild held onto their other longtime forwards on expiring contracts, re-upping Mats Zuccarello (two years, $8.25 million) and Marcus Foligno (four years, $16 million).

All three signings keep the Wild's core intact without blowing their budget. Nine forwards, five defensemen and goaltender Filip Gustavsson are signed for multiple years and if the salary cap rises $4 million as projected, they still have about $12.5 million to work with next summer even after accounting for the almost $15 million charge for the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts.

"I like having cost certainty going forward," Guerin said. "These three guys have all expressed how much they wanted to stay here. We wanted to keep them."

Hartman, 29, initially signed with the Wild as a free agent in 2019 and started out as a bottom-six winger whose side gig was killing penalties.

But in time his role completely changed: Hartman moved to the middle and teamed with Kirill Kaprizov and Zuccarello, a spot he's been in for much of the last two seasons while on a team-friendly three-year, $5.1 million contract that averaged out to be less than Hartman's previous deal with the team.

"It was kind of a tough decision at the time," said Hartman after Gustavsson stopped all 22 shots he faced and the Wild blanked Dallas 4-0 at Xcel Energy Center to finish the preseason 5-1. "I knew I wanted to stay here, and it felt like that might have been the only possibility to stay.

"It's worked out pretty nicely."

Not only did the Wild tack on a no-movement clause to the final season of his current contract in this negotiation, but Hartman will have the same clause in Year 1 of his next deal before a limited no-trade clause in Year 2 (15 teams he can't be traded to) and Year 3 (10 teams).

Still known for his grit, Hartman has contributed more to the offense since his responsibility evolved.

Just two seasons ago he scored a career-high 34 goals. The first-round pick by Chicago in 2013 was limited by injury last season but still chipped in 15 goals — including six game-winners — through 59 games. Hartman went on to play with a knee injury in the playoffs against the Stars, who gave up goals on Saturday to Jake Middleton, Jon Merrill, Kaprizov (power play) and Marco Rossi.

"We want him to play the way he can," Guerin said, "his certain brand of hockey: right up to the line without going over it."