Bogosian signs 2-year, $2.5 million contract with Wild

Zach Bogosian signed a two-year, $2.5 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.

It has an average annual value of $1.25 million.

The 33-year-old defenseman was in the final season of a three-year, $2.55 million contract ($850,000 AAV) he signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 28, 2021, and could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

“I’m happy to be here,” Bogosian said. “Obviously, this time of year is a little weird for everyone, sometimes never really knowing the future, but I’m glad we got something done.

“I kind of knew right away coming in here that I was going to get an opportunity to play and that’s all you really ask for as a player, so there’s a mutual respect there between myself and [general manager Bill Guerin] and the organization and the coaching staff. I think it’s treated me great, so it’s been an easy fit, it’s been smooth.”

Bogosian was traded from Tampa Bay to Minnesota for a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Nov. 8, 2023.

He has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 47 games this season.

“Zach’s been great,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “He’s a good, veteran leader. I think he’s got great experiences throughout his playing career, obviously with the Stanley Cup but also just the years playing. He’s shown that he can take some added responsibilities when given or when needed. He’s been consistent. He adds value to the penalty kill and to have a real quality person, veteran, with good experience is great to have.”

Selected by the Atlanta Thrashers with the No. 3 pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, Bogosian has 222 points (58 goals, 164 assists) in 830 regular-season games for the Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Wild.

He has nine assists in 54 Stanley Cup Playoff games and won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020.

NHL.com independent correspondent Jessi Pierce contributed to this report