The Minnesota Wild settled a major case on Monday by granting forward Matthew Boldy a seven-year, $49 million contract extension.
The 21-year-old skater could have become a restricted free agent next summer, but he will instead have a pact valid until the end of the 2029-2030 campaign.
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“I’ve loved being with this team since the moment I arrived,” said the winger, according to NHL.com. “It was a pretty easy decision to make.”
This season, Boldy has 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 42 games, firing 125 shots. He also amassed fifteen points on the power play.
“Matt is a kid we really believe in,” said general manager Bill Guerin. We are confident that it will be an integral part of our core in the future. We are aware that his career has just begun, but we believe that he will be one of the cornerstones of our organization.
The 12th overall pick in the 2019 National League Draft had 39 points in 47 appearances last season. In 2021, he contributed to the triumph of the United States at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
It is rather rare to see a player with 89 games in the Bettman circuit behind the tie landing a contract worth almost $50 million. Boldy has no intention of taking advantage of this lucrative pact to sit on its laurels.
“I want to play as long as possible and have a positive impact on the team,” he explained. I don’t just want to go to work and be happy that I’m playing in this league. I will play well, score goals and help this team.”
Files pile up
The next few months will not be easy for Guerin and the Wild staff. With approximately $9 million in salary cap wiggle room for next season, the Minnesota team will have to make some heartbreaking decisions.
Defender Matt Dumba, the second most used player by head coach Dean Evason since the start of the campaign, could reach full autonomy.
Young offensive back Calen Addison will become a restricted free agent, as will forwards Sam Steel, Brandon Duhaime and Mason Shaw, as well as goaltender Filip Gustavsson.
Recall that due to the buyout of the contracts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the Wild will be deprived of $14.74 million on its payroll over the next two seasons.
