Wild Sign Peter Ratchuk

[VodkaFish]

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed defenseman Peter Ratchuk (pronounced RAT-chuhk) to a 2006-07 contract.

Ratchuk, 28 (9/10/77), recorded 36 points (12-24=36) and 88 penalty minutes (PIM) in 52 games with Adler Mannheim in the German Elite League this year. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound blueliner tallied 36 points (10-26=36) and 102 PIM in 51 games with the Frankfurt Lions in 2004-05 and added five points (2-3=5) in 11 playoff contests. Ratchuk was a member of Frankfurt’s 2003-04 championship team, collecting 43 points (21-22=43) in 52 games and ranked first among League defensemen in plus-minus rating (+23) and third in scoring. He added six points (1-5=6) in 15 postseason matches.

The native of Buffalo, New York was originally selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round (25th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 32 career NHL contests with the Florida Panthers during parts of the 1998-99 and 2000-01 seasons and collected two points (1-1=2) and 10 PIM.

[jkidd]

[Podollan]

Pete is a great Guy with a great slapshot who is able to make a lot of points with the new rulez , but I doubt that he will really help the wild.

If I see that the NHL will buy guys like him, I was wondering what they will do with the top players from the DEL.

[Ciccarelli]

I guess he'll be in Minnesota for training camp but not make the team and return to Europe. I don't think he is good enough to stick in the NHL.

[breezer]

Originally Posted by Ciccarelli

I guess he'll be in Minnesota for training camp but not make the team and return to Europe.

If Ratchuk returns to Europe he won't play again for the Eagles Mannheim. I hope that our GM, Markus Kuhl, is clever enough to get a Stay at Home Defender instead of Ratchuk, because he is a type of those defender who sometimes like to forget their part at the defense.
I guess Ratchuk will play the whole season AHL.

Here in Mannheim, our defense needs guys like Sven Butenschon.

[Cat Smasher]

Once considered an up-and-coming offensive defenseman.

[Ciccarelli]

Originally Posted by breezer

If Ratchuk returns to Europe he won't play again for the Eagles Mannheim. I hope that our GM, Markus Kuhl, is clever enough to get a Stay at Home Defender instead of Ratchuk, because he is a type of those defender who sometimes like to forget their part at the defense.
I guess Ratchuk will play the whole season AHL.

Here in Mannheim, our defense needs guys like Sven Butenschon.

Hasn't Mannheim already acquired Bouchard of the Frankfurt Lions?

[kingcobrafan]

Terrific. Just what the Wild need, another faceless d-man who'll struggle to even make the NHL roster.

[breezer]

Originally Posted by Ciccarelli

Hasn't Mannheim already acquired Bouchard of the Frankfurt Lions?

Yes, he signed a contract here...

[KindofBlueline]

Originally Posted by kingcobrafan

Terrific. Just what the Wild need, another faceless d-man who'll struggle to even make the NHL roster.

It's only a matter of time before they pull a Blackhawks-esque move and trade away Gaborik.

... Ok, that's probably not going to happen. But be honest, Wild fans, it's how we all feel sometimes. Whether he gets traded or no, there is no way he spends his career in a Wild sweater.