32. Kyle Brodziak – C
6 Seasons, 446 Games, 72 Goals, 97 Assists, 169 Points
Kyle Brodziak had an interesting career with the Wild. As an RFA, he was traded on draft day from the Oilers to the Wild, and was coming to a team that was so uninspiring that it had fired it’s only head coach and lost it’s oft-injured top star to free agency. He signed a 3 year extension with the Wild, and his career in the State of Hockey was on the move.
While playing 3rd and 4th line minutes in Edmonton, he began to blossom in Minnesota, seeing expanded minutes, including substantial PK time. After three solid seasons, the Wild felt he was deserving of a pay raise and a three year extension.
Unfortunately, it was with this contract that the wheels came off, and the former player who had been scoring a point every other game struggled to contribute offensively. While he was still a powerhouse on the penalty kill, his decreased offensive production meant that he was now expendable, and the Wild let him leave for St. Louis.
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