Fletcher's first deal: Wild lands Brodziak

New GM picks up a versatile center from Edmonton who shares a little history with Todd Richards, the team's new coach.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: June 27, 2009 - 11:10 PM

MONTREAL - Three years ago in Wilkes-Barre, the Edmonton Oilers shared the Pittsburgh Penguins' minor league club.

Todd Richards, now the Wild's coach but then the Baby Pens' coach, was ambushed with almost too many bodies, so in training camp, Richards barely noticed a kid named Kyle Brodziak.

But after starting the season as a healthy scratch, Brodziak slowly earned the trust of Richards to the point he was ultimately voted Wilkes-Barre's 2006-07 team MVP after a 56-point, 62-game season.

Saturday, in Chuck Fletcher's first player trade as the Wild's GM, Brodziak went from being a St. Paul, Alberta, native to a St. Paul., Minn., resident. The 25-year-old versatile Edmonton Oilers forward was dealt along with a sixth-round pick to the Wild for a fourth- and fifth-round pick.

"At the AHL level, I used him in every situation," Richards said by phone. "I think the biggest compliment you can give to a player is that he's trustworthy. Any situation, I felt very, very comfortable putting him out on the ice.

"If we needed a goal in the last minute, Kyle was out there because he has enough ability to score. If we were up by a goal, I knew he'd do everything to keep it out of our net or get it out of our zone. He's a committed player to playing defense and blocking shots and does all the little things that earn the trust of a coach."

The trade could signal the end of Dan Fritsche's 34-game career with the Wild. Fritsche, acquired last season for Erik Reitz, fills the same fourth-line center role. He's a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and would be owed a raise on last year's $875,000 salary.

Fletcher said he doesn't plan to qualify all his restricted free agents Monday, and while that could mean some minor-leaguers, the only NHLers are Fritsche, Josh Harding and now Brodziak.

With the Oilers, Brodziak has played mostly a checking role. Last year, he spent most of his time on Edmonton's fourth line, although he has shown flashes of offense (59 points in 175 games), especially against the Wild. Two years ago, Brodziak was named the Star Tribune's First and Second Star in consecutive victories against Minnesota after combining for three goals and an assist.

"I try to be a good two-way centerman," Brodziak told Wild Radio. "I definitely think I can score some goals in this league, but at the same time play a good responsible game."

Brodziak can play center or wing and should help a Wild team that's been below average in the faceoff circle (21st last year). Last season, Brodziak won 51.6 percent of his draws, and he's a right shot, valuable on a Wild team with left-shot pivots Mikko Koivu, James Sheppard, Eric Belanger and perhaps even Pierre-Marc Bouchard next season.

"There's a lot of things you can do with a Kyle Brodziak," Fletcher said.

Considering how confident Richards is in him, Brodziak should get ice time. "[Richards' up-tempo style] is going to be an exciting change for the city and the team," Brodziak said. "It's going to be an exciting brand of hockey."

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