Wild Ink Tough Guy Joel Rechlicz To Two-Way Contract

The Minnesota Wild have signed tough guy Joel Rechlicz to a one-year two-way contract this week following the opening of free agency on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Brookfield, WI native spent last season with the Hershey Bears, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Washington Capitals.

Rechlicz, nicknamed “The Wrecker,” has played 26 career NHL games spread over three seasons between the Islanders and the Capitals. In those 26 games he has one assist and 105 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-4, 235 pound right wing is more known for what he does with his fists than what he can do with the puck. Last season for the Hershey Bears, Rechlicz suited up for 25 games (none since 2012), accumulating a goal, an assist, and 87 penalty minutes.

Rechlicz will bring size and grit to Iowa next season, where he will likely start off. Iowa finished dead last in the AHL’s Western Conference last year and needs to shore up a number of holes after seeing many players make the jump to the NHL. Grit and size is something that the Wild need both in Iowa and Minnesota and Rechlicz has some NHL experience and should be able to appear in a few NHL games if called upon.

Should he get any call ups to St. Paul, his presence will be a message sent. Chuck Fletcher won’t be calling up Rechlicz to give the team scoring depth or to have someone in the locker room who can recite Beowulf in the original Old English.

Watch a highlight reel from the Hershey Bears’ YouTube page and other assorted videos of Rechlicz’ work below.

Rechlicz montage

Rechlicz see a “bobble fist” of himself for the first time

Follow Rechlicz on Twitter here.