SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that Minnesota Wild forward Erik Haula was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. Additionally, the Wild received a conditional third-round selection in the 2017 or 2018 NHL Entry Draft from the Golden Knights in exchange for forward Alex Tuch. Vegas' selections were announced during the 2017 NHL Awards Show and Expansion Draft this evening at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
"For the last year, we've known that we would be forced to lose quality talent from our roster in the Expansion Draft," said Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher. "That forewarning doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye to Erik and Alex, but I thank them for their time with our organization. It's never easy to lose quality players, but Vegas has earned this right, and we're excited to move forward and build our roster as we prepare for a successful 2017-18 season."
Haula, 26 (3/23/91), totaled 89 points (42-47=89) and 113 penalty minutes (PIM) in 266 games in four seasons with Minnesota (2013-17). The 6-foot, 193-pound centerman registered 26 points, including a career-high 15 goals, and 28 PIM in 72 games in 2016-17. The native of Pori, Finland, was originally selected by the Wild in the seventh round (182nd overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Tuch, 21 (5/10/96), appeared in six games with Minnesota in 2016-17, including his NHL debut Feb. 4 in Vancouver. The Syracuse, N.Y., native totaled 37 points (18-19=37) and 28 PIM in 57 games with the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2016-17 - his first season of professional hockey. The 6-foot-4, 222-pound forward was originally selected by the Wild in the first round (18th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.