The Minnesota Wild have bolstered their forward lineup by signing a player with Stanley Cup-winning experience.
The team announced Tuesday that forward Nico Sturm has agreed to return to the Wild, signing a two-year contract valued at $4 million in total, carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $2 million.
Last season, Sturm joined the Florida Panthers mid-season via a trade. He was acquired by the eventual Stanley Cup champions from the San Jose Sharks, along with a 2027 seventh-round draft pick, in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick.
The 30-year-old forward recorded a total of seven goals and 14 points over 62 games played for both the Panthers and Sharks during the season.
Primarily a left-shot center, Sturm participated in eight playoff games for Florida.
Sturm has accumulated seven seasons of NHL experience, having played for the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, and Florida Panthers.
His NHL journey began with the Wild in the 2018-19 season, joining the team as an undrafted free agent. He spent parts of his first four professional seasons with Minnesota before being traded to Colorado.
As a member of the Colorado Avalanche during the 2021-22 season, Sturm was part of the team that won the 2022 Stanley Cup championship.
