June 7, 2007
Wild sign Backstrom to two-year deal TheFourthPeriod.com
The Minnesota Wild has signed goaltender Niklas Backstrom to a two-year, $6.2 million contract.
As part of the deal, Backstrom receives a no-trade clause during only the first year of the new agreement.
Backstrom, 29, posted a 23-8-6 record and tied the franchise record for shutouts in a season with five in 41 games during the 2006-07 season.
The native of Helsinki, Finland ranked first in the NHL with a 1.97 goals-against-average and won the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award with a league-best .929 save percentage.
Backstrom could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1 if he didn't sign his new deal with Minnesota. Now that he is locked up, the Wild will entertain trade offers for goalie Manny Fernandez.
