INSIDE HOCKEY

The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Greg Zanon to a three-year deal this afternoon. TSN is reporting the deal is worth $5.8 million, which works out to about $1.93 million a year.

Zanon played in 82 games with Nashville last year, where he recorded four goals and seven assists along with 38 penalty minutes. He is a stay-at-home defenseman who is known for his shot-blocking ability. He recorded 237 blocked shots last season, which was third in the NHL. He has ranked in the top 10 of the NHL in blocked shots in each of the last three seasons. He also recorded 153 hits last season, which was second best on the Predators roster.

Some Minnesota fans will not like this signing because he is not an offensive-minded defenseman, but he will be a good addition to the Wild. But if the Wild want to sign another defensemen I would hope they would look for one that will produce offensively.

Zanon and Wild Head Coach Todd Richards won a Calder Cup together in 2004 with the Milwaukee Admirals. Richards was an assistant coach at the time.

I’m starting to wonder if the Wild are going to do anything else today. They really need to sign a center and another defenseman. There are rumors the Wild may try and trade goaltender Josh Harding and sign a cheaper back up goaltender. On June 26th Canada.com reported that the Oilers were interested in Harding, if the price was right.