The Wild signed center Christoph Bertschy (pronounced BAIRT-chee) to a three-year, entry-level contract starting next season today. The Swiss-born 21-year-old is a 2012 sixth-round pick.

I reported three weeks ago the Wild planned to sign him after the world championships, but he apparently has a nagging injury from the playoffs and won't be able to play in worlds.

I actually have seen Bertschy play in person. A few years ago before the world juniors in Alberta, I went to a Swiss-USA exhibition game a few hours from Edmonton. I got to watch Charlie Coyle and Jason Zucker in that game, too.

By all accounts, he's really come on this year under Guy Boucher. He was given a bigger role and aside from injuries was productive. He's a skilled winger with good speed a skilled playmaker. Not the biggest body but is well conditioned and strong for his size.

From the press release:

Bertschy collected 30 points (14-16=30), a plus-14 rating and 26 penalty minutes (PIM) in 44 games with SC Bern in the Swiss League in 2014-15. The 5-foot-10, 189-pound native of Fribourg, Switzerland, ranked T-2nd on the team in goals, T-3rd in plus/minus and fifth in scoring. He added three points (1-2=3) in seven playoff games. Bertschy recorded 14 points (6-8=14) in 37 games with HC Bern in 2013-14. He ranked T-3rd in scoring for Switzerland with five points (3-2=5) and a plus-4 rating in six games at the 2013 World Junior Championship. Bertschy did not participate in the 2014 World Junior tournament due to injury.

He's expected to start next season with AHL Iowa.

I'll be on Fox Sports North during the station's hour-long pregame show. Game 6, 2 p.m., is on NBC.