The Minnesota Wild and the rest of the teams in the NHL aren’t allowed make any trades until the league’s trading freeze expires Feb. 24, but teams can still sign players on the open market.
The Wild did just that on Monday with the signing of goalie John Curry. The Breck School product was signed to a two-way NHL contract on Monday, according to the Star Tribune.
The newspaper reports Curry will provide depth to the Wild with goaltenders Josh Harding and Niklas Backstrom dealing with health issues.
Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher told the Star Tribune, “He has lots of experience. He’s earned it. He’s just played very well down there, so he deserves an NHL deal and there’s no downside to signing him and having him available to you.”
Six times already this year Johan Gustafsson has been on the Wild’s active roster and has backed up nine games, but has yet to make his NHL debut. According to the Star Tribune, signing Curry is a way the Wild can avoid the yo-yo for Gustafsson, a first year North American professional.
KSTP-AM reports Curry has gone 6-3-2 in 12 games for Iowa this season. He has a 1.95 goals-against average there and has been bouncing back and forth all year between Iowa and Orlando in the ECHL.
Curry has played in just four NHL games in his career, all for Pittsburgh over parts of two seasons. Curry is 2-2 with a 3.67 goals-against average in those games.
