The Minnesota Wild have signed college free agent forward Nico Sturm to a one-year, entry-level contract. Financial terms are yet to be disclosed. This contract carries him through the end of the current season.
NEWS: #Mnwild signs Nico Sturm to a one-year, entry-level contract for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
More: https://t.co/8hpBdXOpRx pic.twitter.com/UZfVWbVkIt
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 1, 2019
Nico Sturm Signs With the Wild
The 23-year-old German forward recently completed his junior season with the Clarkson Golden Knights of the ECAC. He helped led Clarkson to third place in the regular season and the conference tournament crown. The Augsburg, Germany native had 14 goals and 31 assists for 45 points.
He collected 36 goals and 67 assists for 103 points in 118 games with the Golden Knights. Sturm won the conference’s award for best defensive forward the last two seasons. Sturm is also one of the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award for the best collegiate player.
The forward was on Top Shelf Prospect’s list of the best available college free agents prior to signing his deal with Minnesota. He has good size at 6-foot-3-inches tall and 207 pounds. Sturm is very sound on defence, but has really rounded into a good offensive player.
He is strong and able to fight off defenders to keep possession of the puck. Sturm is also good at winning draws and is willing to do the little things. He doesn’t mind going into the corners and trying to win battles along the boards.
What This Means for the Future
Sturm gets to show his stuff the last part of the season and becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Minnesota will retain his negotiating rights. He can go ahead and sign a non entry-level deal this off-season. This is due to him being 23-year-old.
Minnesota gets the inside track and signing a hidden gem of the college ranks in the off-season. Sturm was one of the most coveted college players.
Clarkson loses a key forward that has made it one of the better teams in the conference. They lost Sheldon Rempal and Josh Dickinson to the NHL at the end of last season.
MANCHESTER, NH – MARCH 29: Clarkson University Golden Knights forward Nico Sturm (17) shoots during a Northeast Regional semi-final between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Clarkson Golden Knights on March 29, 2019, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
