Wild re-sign Joel Eriksson Ek to 8-year, $42M deal
FILE: Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the third period against the Dallas Stars.[AP/Richard W. Rodriguez]
Center Joel Eriksson Ek is locked in with the Wild through the 2028-2029 season. The restricted free agent signed an 8-year, $42 million contract on Friday.
Eriksson Ek, 24, recorded a career-high 30 points (19-11=30) in 56 games during the 2020-21 season. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Sweden native also set career-highs in goals, plus/minus rating (+16) and in TOI/game (17:03). He led the Wild in faceoffs won (395), ranked second in hits (105), third in goals and shots (119), fourth in plus/minus rating and fifth in scoring.
Quite simply, he’s the Wild’s best center and has gotten better year after year. He made his presence felt in the playoffs scoring an overtime game-winner to beat Las Vegas.
Minnesota selected Eriksson Ek in the first round (20th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Minnesota Wild PR contributed to this report