One day after Nino Niederreiter filed for arbitration, fellow Wild restricted free agent Mikael Granlund did the same in advance of Wednesday's player-elected arbitration deadline.
Contract negotiations can continue between the Wild and Granlund in order to avoid a hearing in front of a neutral arbitrator in Toronto later this month. In most cases, contracts are worked out beforehand. By filing for arbitration, this guarantees a resolution in the near future.
"Mikael wants to be there from the first day of camp and wants the team to get a chance to play for the Cup. Potentially holding out is not his style," said Todd Diamond, Granlund's agent.
Granlund, 25, led the Wild with a career-high 69 points last season (26 goals, 43 assists).
MICHAEL RUSSO
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• St. Cloud will be the host city for next year's Hockey Day Minnesota festivities on Jan. 20, 2018. The games, all broadcast on Fox Sports North or FSN Plus, include three outdoor games on Lake George: St. Cloud vs. St. Cloud Cathedral boys at 10 a.m., St. Cloud State vs. Minnesota Duluth women at 1 p.m. and Moorhead vs. Centennial boys at 4:30 p.m. The day concludes with Minnesota State Mankato vs. St. Cloud State men at the National Sports Center at 5 p.m. and the Wild vs. Tampa Bay at Xcel Energy Center at 8 p.m.
• Ruben Sondjaja of Ames, Iowa, Derek Hitchner of Minneapolis and Ben Sigel of Deephaven earned their way into the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship in sectional qualifying at Brackett's Crossing in Lakeville. The U.S. Amateur will be held Aug. 14-20 at Riviera CC in Los Angeles.
• Second baseman Tony Thomas, outfielder Anthony Gallas and pitcher Mark Hamburger of the St. Paul Saints were named to the American Association All-Star team, which will play the Can-Am League All-Stars on July 25 in Ottawa.
