Only a hockey player would be excited about moving from Florida to Minnesota in February, but that’s exactly how the newest member of the Minnesota Wild feels after being traded.
Sean Bergenheim traveled from Florida to Nashville where he will join his new teammates on Thursday against the Predators.
“It will be nice to see some snow,” Bergenheim told reporters in a conference call on Wednesday.
He quickly added that Minnesota’s cold won’t bother him because he’s from Finland, which might give him another advantage with the Wild.
Bergenheim said he thinks his friendship with fellow Fins Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund will help make his transition to Minnesota a smooth one – in fact he becomes the sixth Finnish player on the Wild’s roster.
According to the Star Tribune’s Michael Russo, Bergenheim is hoping for a fresh start after a season that went sour in Florida. Bergenheim had eight goals and 10 assists in 39 games for the Panthers and was averaging 14 minutes of ice time per game, but recently had been a healthy scratch in Florida.
The Wild traded a 2016 third round pick to the Panthers for Bergenheim and a 2016 seventh rounder.
“I still can bring a lot every time I’m on the ice,” Bergenheim added. “I don’t know if (the Panthers) didn’t feel that. It’s hard for me to say what went wrong because I don’t have any issues with anyone in that organization.”
Bergenheim spoke with Wild coach Mike Yeo on Wednesday, but doesn’t know what his new role will be yet. The Pioneer Press notes that part of the reason he was acquired was because of injuries to forwards Jason Zucker, Matt Cooke and Ryan Carter.
But Bergenheim has had success in the playoffs – 17 points in 23 career playoff games.
According to FOX Sports North, the Wild fit with what Bergenheim was looking for in a new team: a chance to play in the post season.
