Phillips Assigned To Saint John

Zack Phillips, the Wild’s 2011 first round draft pick taken 28th overall, has been assigned to the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. In his first NHL training camp, Phillips played two preseason games and registered an assist last night on Kris Foucault’s first period goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Wild’s current training camp roster stands at 45 players because the club did recall defenseman Kyle Medvec yesterday after assigning him to Houston earlier in the week.

Wild Ends Backup Question; Signs Harding

Ending speculation that the club might re-sign Jose Theodore or explore the backup goaltending market in free agency, the Wild re-signed goaltender Josh Harding to a one-year deal today. After missing all of last season with a torn ACL and MCL, Harding returns for at least one more year as Niklas Backstrom’s expected backup.

Wild.com will have more on the signing of Harding, as well as the re-signings of Drew Bagnall and Jed Ortmeyer. The club is also expected to sign former Vermont Catamount Kyle Medvec to an entry level deal today.

We will also be tracking all the moves in the NHL today, the first day of free agency.

Kuemper, Sallinen and Foucault Get Qualifying Offers

Today was the deadline for NHL teams to grant qualifying offers to certain draft picks. The Wild did not sign Finnish skaters Eero Elo or Harri Ilvonen, and both will re-enter the NHL Draft. Elo was a fifth round pick (145th overall) in the 2008 Draft. Ilvonen was a sixth round pick in the 2007 Draft.

Finnish goaltender Niko Hovinen also was not signed, and he becomes a draft-related free agent. Hovinen was taken in the fifth round (132nd overall) of the 2006 Draft.

The Wild did send qualifying offers to Darcy Kuemper, Jere Sallinen and Kris Foucault and the team will retain the rights to all three through June 1.

In addition to Kyle Medvec, Chris Hickey and Sean Lorenz, Minnesota Gopher recruit Erik Haula and Colgate recruit Anthony Hamburg will remain on the reserve list as unsigned draft choices with “college status.”