Wild hire Fenton as general manager

Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Minnesota Wild have announced the hiring of Paul Fenton to a multi-year contract as the team’s general manager and alternate governor.

Fenton will oversee the Wild’s hockey operations department including all matters relating to player personnel, coaching staff, scouting department and minor league operations.

Fenton, 58, spent the previous 20 seasons with the Nashville Predators, including the last 12 as assistant general manager of the Predators and GM of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.

He was instrumental in acquiring many of Nashville’s core players that helped the Predators advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 11 of the last 14 seasons, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. Fenton served as Nashville’s director of player personnel during its first eight seasons in the NHL before he was promoted to assistant GM in 2006.

Under Fenton’s watch, Milwaukee made 12 consecutive playoff appearances from 2002-03 to 2013-14 while also focusing on prospect development. Milwaukee became the first team in AHL history to post 40 or more wins and 90 or more points in eight consecutive seasons (2003-11), and has won five division titles, two conference championships and the 2004 Calder Cup title.

Prior to joining the Predators, Fenton spent five seasons with the Anaheim Ducks (1993-98), serving as a scout for three seasons and chief professional scout the last two seasons. He has also served as associate general manager for Team USA at the 2011 World Championship and director of player personnel for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Fenton’s playing career included 411 NHL games over eight seasons from 1984-92 as well as 273 games in the AHL, where he was a First Team AHL All-Star in 1985-86 and a Second Team selection in 1986-87.