Wild sign Bouchard to $20.4 million contract

After trying to trade him earlier this summer, the Minnesota Wild avoided a salary arbitration hearing with Pierre-Marc Bouchard by re-signing the right wing to a five-year, $20.4 million contract. The deal was finalized late Friday. General manager Doug Risebrough said Saturday he considers the 24-year-old Bouchard still in the developmental stage of his career. His 221 points over five seasons rank second on the club's all-time list behind Marian Gaborik. Minnesota's first-round draft pick in 2002, eighth overall, Bouchard made the team at age 18. Last season he tallied a franchise-best 50 assists to go with 13 goals, after scoring 20 times during the 2006-07 season. Bouchard was one year away from unrestricted free agency, so he could have waited to see what the market for him would be next summer. But after signing a... [read full story]