Wild Re-Sign Defenseman Andrei Zyuzin

[VodkaFish]

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed defenseman Andrei Zyuzin (pronounced ZYOO-zin) to a 2005-06 contract.

Zyuzin, 27 (1/21/78), skated in 65 games with Minnesota and established career-bests for points (21), goals (8) and power play goals (4) during the 2003-04 campaign. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound native of Ufa, Russia ranked first among team defensemen in goals and power play goals and second in points. He was claimed off of waivers from New Jersey on November 4, 2002 and recorded 17 points (4-13=17) in 67 contests with the Wild in 2002-03. Zyuzin has notched 91 points (28-63=91) and 328 penalty minutes (PIM) in 358 career NHL matches during seven seasons with San Jose, Tampa Bay, New Jersey and Minnesota. He was originally selected by San Jose with the second overall pick in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

Zyuzin appeared in 24 games with Salavat Yulayev Ufa and Severstal Cherepovets of the Russian League last season and tallied six points (4-2=6) and 14 PIM.