Ottawa 67s standout defenceman Tyler Cuma has signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota Wild, the Ottawa Sun has learned.
Cuma, the Wild's first-round draft pick in 2008 (23rd overall), will make $875,000 a year if he plays at least 10 games with the NHL club. If he is sent back to the 67s, the 19-year-old will collect his $87,500 signing bonus and the contract "slides" for a year, said his agent, Paul Krepelka of the Orr Group.
Cuma will also get a $125,000 bonus if he makes the NHL all-rookie team or finishes in the top four on the Wild in ice-time.
"It won't be a matter of if, but when he'll be with the Wild, either this year or next," Krepelka said. "It'll all depend on training camp."
Cuma is training at the Wild development camp in Minnesota this week.
Responding to an email from the Sun, he said camp was going "very well." He said the knee injury that cut his season short and forced him out of this year's world junior hockey championship in Ottawa "is holding up great."
"Still a bit of pain and tweaks but that's to be expected," he wrote.
He didn't comment on the contract.
Changes to Minnesota's front office delayed the signing, Krepelka said. GM Doug Risebrough was fired in April and replaced by Chuck Fletcher (son of former Toronto Maple Leaf boss Cliff Fletcher) in May.
