Minnesota Wild Makes Minor Deal With San Jose Sharks

Feb 19, 2012; St. Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Chad Rau (36) against the Boston Bruins at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Bruins 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY SportsThe Minnesota Wild has shipped minor league forward Chad Rau to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for third-year pro Curt Gogol.

Here’s the full release from NHL.com:

The San Jose Sharks on Wednesday acquired forward Chad Rau from the Minnesota Wild for forward Curt Gogol.Rau, 27, has nine games of NHL experience with the Wild during the 2011-12 season, scoring two goals. This season he has one goal and seven points in 33 games for the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League.Gogol, 22, is in his third season with the Worcester Sharks of the AHL, posting three goals, one assist and 149 penalty minutes in 40 games.

It’s small, but it’s a deal nonetheless, and it very likely won’t be the only one made by Wild GM Chuck Fletcher before the March 5th deadline. So long, Chad.