Looking to add some experience and depth to its defensive corps, the Minnesota Wild inked Apple Valley native and former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mike Lundin to a one-year contract today.
Lundin comes to the Wild after playing parts of four seasons with the Lightning, including last year when he registered a goal and 11 assists in 69 games and added two helpers in 18 playoff contests.
After a stellar career at Apple Valley High School where he was a 2003 Mr. Hockey finalist, the 2003 Associated Press Minnesota hockey Player of the Year and the 2003 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, Lundin played four seasons with the Maine Black Bears of Hockey East. His best college season came in his senior year of 2006-07, when he talled six goals and 14 assists in 40 games.
From there, Lundin made the jump straight to the NHL, playing in 81 of 82 games during his rookie season. He then split his next two seasons between Tampa and Norfolk of the American Hockey League before staying with the Lightning all of last season. In his NHL career, Lundin has four goals and 29 assists in 224 games.
Lundin’s arrival comes after the Wild recently dealt Brent Burns to the San Jose Sharks. He’ll now join a defensive group that is expected to include Nick Schultz, Clayton Stoner, Greg Zanon and Marek Zidlicky with competition from Jared Spurgeon, Marco Scandella, Nate Prosser, Justin Falk and potentially others.
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