The Minnesota Wild and Zach Bogosian announced that he re-signs with a two-season, $1.25 million per year deal today. The stay-at-home defenceman was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Update: The #mnwild have signed defenseman Zach Bogosian to a two-year, $2.5 million contract extension after making a smooth transition to the team from Tampa Bay. https://t.co/VXjJ9QJKjZ pic.twitter.com/zby40JJsjt
— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) March 5, 2024
Zach Bogosian Re-Signs with the Wild
The Wild brought Bogosian to the team in November, bringing him in as they moved Calen Addison out. The 33-year-old, right-side defender was in the last of a three-season deal he had signed with Tampa Bay. While the Lightning are hanging on to a Wild Card spot, the Wild are hard-pressed to reach the playoffs.
Still, Bogosian is comfortable with his new team, agreeing to the deal with little fuss and a slight raise. He jumped from being barely used as a member of the Lightning to being a regular part of the lineup in Minnesota. Never a prolific scorer, he’s rewarded the team with a goal and nine points in his 43 games this year.
Expectations are that will be his role for the next two seasons. Bogosian has helped ease the loss of Jared Spurgeon to long-term injury, but the Wild are looking for a bit of stability beyond Spurgeon’s return. Having an affordable cap hit helps, too, though the pain of their current buyout penalties will ease after next season.
What This Means
Even if the Wild can’t reach the playoffs this season, they want veterans around. That combined $14.7 million dead cap hit means they can go with either cheap veterans or untested youth next season. Given their prospects, having a veteran like Zach Bogosian on hand is essential. If he ends up being pushed off the ice by kids who earn his spot, then it’s a win for the team. If he doesn’t, that’s a win for him, and more evidence they made the right move to sign him. In either case, this is a good deal for now and with an eye to the near future.
Main photo: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
