With limited salary cap space this offseason for free agent acquisitions, aside from forward Yakov Trenin, General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin has focused on the current roster. The Minnesota Wild have inked defenseman Jacob Middleton to a four-year, $4.35 million average annual value (AAV) contract extension.

Middleton, acquired from the San Jose Sharks during the 2021-22 season in exchange for backup goalie Kaapo Kahkonen, initially had modest statistics with 12 points, a plus/minus rating of -2, and 82 penalty minutes in 59 games. However, his performance surged upon joining the Wild.

Last season, Middleton played 80 games, tallying 25 points while averaging 19 minutes and 49 seconds of ice time per game. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, Middleton has proven to be a reliable defenseman who can also serve as an enforcer when needed. He notably partnered with captain Jared Spurgeon on the top defensive pairing during Spurgeon’s absence due to injury.

Guerin’s decision to extend Middleton follows previous offseason extensions for Ryan Hartman, Mats Zuccarello, and Marcus Foligno, which drew criticism despite having additional years on their contracts. This offseason, Guerin aims to secure Middleton’s services early, potentially saving costs as Middleton’s value could increase later.

Moreover, the Minnesota Wild’s AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, is in a developmental phase with prospects like Carson Lambos, Ryan O’Rourke, Jack Peart, and others not yet ready for NHL play. Securing Middleton now ensures a stable and cost-effective top-four defenseman for the Wild.