Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher on Wednesday announced the club has acquired a fifth-round selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft from the Washington Capitals in exchange for forward Tyler Graovac.
Graovac, 24, totaled nine points (7-2=9) and 10 penalty minutes in 52 games with Minnesota in 2016-17. The 6-foot-5, 212-pound native of Brampton, Ont., added 15 points (10-5=15) and 15 PIM in 26 games with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League.
Graovac was selected by the Wild in the seventh round (191st overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and totaled nine points (7-2=9) and 10 PIM in 57 games with Minnesota after making his NHL debut in 2014-15.
He began his career as a rookie in Iowa during the team’s inaugural season (13-14), posting 25 points off 13 goals and 12 assists in 64 games. He made a significant jump in numbers the following season, leading the team in goals (21) and points (46), while tying for second in assists (25) over 73 games played. He also earned his first NHL callup and played in three games for Minnesota. He was limited to 39 games in Iowa due to injuries in 2015-16, but he still managed to post 16 points off five goals and 11 assists. This past season, Graovac scored 10 times and added five assists for 15 points in 26 games with Iowa. He also played in 52 games for the NHL’s Wild, scoring seven goals and totaling nine points. In all, Graovac collected 49 goals and 53 assists for 102 points in 202 games with Iowa.
Graovac was the last original member of the 2013-14 Iowa team remaining on the Wild roster. The center is among the all-time leaders for nearly every offensive category in the team’s four-year existence. Graovac is Iowa’s all-time leader with 53 assists and 102 points. He is second in games played (202) and goals scored (49). Graovac also sits first in power-play goals (18) and shots on goals (476). He ranks second in power-play points (32) and is among the top ten in power-play assists (14) and game-winning goals (5).
