Wild Extend Niklas Backstrom

The Minnesota Wild are in the midst of a six-game road trip. The trip is part of a stretch of 14 out of 17 games on the road, as the XCel Energy Center is being used for Minnesota state boys and girls high school hockey tournaments, the state high school wrestling tournament, and a college hockey tournament.

As the trip continues Tuesday night in Vancouver, the Wild find themselves 0-2, and now in 10th place in the Western Conference. Even with veteran forward Owen Nolan flying to Vancouver Monday so he can play despite a broken toe, the Wild are in search of some good news. They finally have some.

ESPN was first to report that the Wild have signed goalie Niklas Backstrom to a new contract. The deal is reportedly four years and $24 million.

(Yes, it appears ESPN was first to report this. I bow to them on breaking their first hockey story since before the lockout.)

Last week, I warned that the Wild may let Backstrom go. Outside of their inability to get a contract done, and the vague talk about a possible trade, there was no reason to think the Wild would do this. It made no sense to trade him, and it made no sense to let him become a free agent July 1.

I know there are some who feel Backstrom is a product of the system in Minnesota. Anyone who actually watches the Wild has to differ with this notion. The Wild have been uncharacteristically sloppy on defense this season, allowing a lot of odd-man rushes and way too many grade-A scoring chances. Backstrom has been their rock throughout the season. If it weren't for him, the Wild would not be in the Western playoff chase.

The Wild may not be totally done with the trade deadline, even as it relates to goalies. It is a better bet that backup goaltender Josh Harding gets dealt this summer, but he might not be a bad fit for teams who are still searching for a netminder who can start right now.