Post by heelsox (Wild GM) on Aug 11, 2011 20:52:33 GMT -5
Langenbrunner Comes Home
ST. PAUL -- On opening night of free agency, the Minnesota Wild found themselves making yet another big splash in what's already been a very promising offseason. GM Heelsox announced the signing of Jamie Langenbrunner to a 1 year, 4 million dollar deal Thursday evening in what could be Langenbrunner's goodbye tour.
Langenbrunner, a native of Duluth, Minnesota, played his high school hockey for the Cloquet Lumberjacks before moving to the OHL. The 37 year old will be going into his 19th NHL season, and he couldn't be happier to be doing it in front of friends and family.
"Throughout my career, it's always been great to come back to Minnesota and spend time with my family. When the Wild approached me, I knew that this was how I wanted to finish my career."
Langenbrunner brings a ton of experience to what has been deemed one of the, if not the most up and coming franchise in the NHL right now.
"We wanted to bring in some veteran leadership after acquiring plenty of youth this offseason," said GM Heelsox, "Jamie is a guy that the second we saw he was available, we knew he was our guy. Throughout his career, he's been a guy to give it all on each shift and knows what it takes to win. He's a guy we want rubbing off on everyone in the locker room."
Langenbrunner has two career Stanley Cups to his name, one with New Jersey and one with Dallas, and while hoisting the cup in Minnesota is unlikely this year, Langenbrunner is the type of player that could push the franchise towards their first playoff birth since 2008.
"When I spoke to Heelsox, he made the goal very clear, to return a winning mentality to the organization and I feel I can do that." said Langenbrunner "I see alot of potential in the locker room and I'm excited to have an impact on the hometown team."
GM Heelsox also announced that Langenbrunner would be the team captain for the upcoming season.
ST. PAUL -- On opening night of free agency, the Minnesota Wild found themselves making yet another big splash in what's already been a very promising offseason. GM Heelsox announced the signing of Jamie Langenbrunner to a 1 year, 4 million dollar deal Thursday evening in what could be Langenbrunner's goodbye tour.
Langenbrunner, a native of Duluth, Minnesota, played his high school hockey for the Cloquet Lumberjacks before moving to the OHL. The 37 year old will be going into his 19th NHL season, and he couldn't be happier to be doing it in front of friends and family.
"Throughout my career, it's always been great to come back to Minnesota and spend time with my family. When the Wild approached me, I knew that this was how I wanted to finish my career."
Langenbrunner brings a ton of experience to what has been deemed one of the, if not the most up and coming franchise in the NHL right now.
"We wanted to bring in some veteran leadership after acquiring plenty of youth this offseason," said GM Heelsox, "Jamie is a guy that the second we saw he was available, we knew he was our guy. Throughout his career, he's been a guy to give it all on each shift and knows what it takes to win. He's a guy we want rubbing off on everyone in the locker room."
Langenbrunner has two career Stanley Cups to his name, one with New Jersey and one with Dallas, and while hoisting the cup in Minnesota is unlikely this year, Langenbrunner is the type of player that could push the franchise towards their first playoff birth since 2008.
"When I spoke to Heelsox, he made the goal very clear, to return a winning mentality to the organization and I feel I can do that." said Langenbrunner "I see alot of potential in the locker room and I'm excited to have an impact on the hometown team."
GM Heelsox also announced that Langenbrunner would be the team captain for the upcoming season.