Justin Fontaine Signs Two-Year Deal With Minnesota Wild

Minnesota Wild winger Justin Fontaine has avoided arbitration and signed a two-year deal with the team.

Fontaine was scheduled for an arbitration hearing on Friday, but he and the team have found terms on a one-way deal to avoid the hearing. The deal pays Fontaine an AAV of $1 million, paying out $950,000 in the first season and $1.05 in the second, according to the Star Tribune’s Michael Russo.

Fontaine was one of the pleasant surprises of the Wild’s 2013-14 season, recording 13 goals, which put him fourth on the team, 12th among NHL rookies, and third all time among Minnesota Wild rookies. He finished with 22 points, 26 penalty minutes, and a plus-6 rating through 66 games.

He was hot and cold throughout the season, but played strong when it counted and showed an ability to move up and down the lineup, playing most of the season on the third and fourth lines.

With this signing, the Wild have tied up one of the three remaining RFAs they plan to sign. The other two, still waiting deals, are Nino Niederreiter and Darcy Kuemper, both of whom did not file for arbitration.

Watch Fontaine grab a hat trick on January 9, 2014 against the Phoenix Coyotes below.