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First Round Picks: No. 3
What they need
Like most expansion teams, the Wild and General Manager Doug Risebrough will look to acquire the pieces of a puzzle that will hopefully be a winning team in the not-too-distant future.
In their system
The first player to sign with the Wild was forward Steve Aronson, a Minnetonka, MN, native who played his college hockey at the University of St. Thomas (NCAA Div. III). Aronson was the Division III Player of The Year in 1999-2000, with 38 goals and 91 points in just 33 games.
Another standout college player signed by Minnesota was former University of Maine (NCAA-Hockey East) forward Cory Larose. In 1999-2000, Larose had 51 points (15 G, 36 A) in 39 games for the Black Bears. Larose is one of two former Maine players inked by the Wild, the other being forward Brendan Walsh (9-21-30 in 39 games this season.).
On the veteran front, Minnesota has signed 31-year old ex-L.A. King left wing Kai Nurminen (193rd overall in ?96), who had 77 points (41-36) in 54 games with Finnish club TPS Turku in 1999-2000, and former Penguins, Ducks, and Flyers center Richard Park (50th overall in ?94), who had 28 goals and 60 points in 82 games for the IHL?s Utah Grizzlies.
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ALSO SEE
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Team Needs: Vancouver Canucks
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