SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with defenseman Alex Goligoski to a one-year, $5 million contract.
Goligoski, 35 (7/30/85), recorded 22 points (3-19=22), seven power-play assists (PPA), 108 blocked shots and 76 hits in 56 games with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2020-21 season. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound native of Grand Rapids, Minn., led the Coyotes in blocked shots (T-9th amongst NHL defensemen) and ranked third amongst team blueliners in assists, PPA and points. He registered a season-high five-game point streak (0-6=6) from March 27-April 5. The left-shot blueliner tallied 20 of his 22 points in the last 24 contests of the season (3-17=20) and ranked T-4th amongst NHL defensemen in scoring since March 23.
He owns 429 points (83-346=429), 308 penalty minutes (PIM), 26 power-play goals (PPG), 115 PPA, nine game-winning goals (GWG), 1,574 blocked shots and 1,052 hits in 924 career games in 14 NHL seasons with Pittsburgh (2007-11), Dallas (2010-16) and Arizona (2016-21). The Minnesota native ranks first amongst active MN-born NHL defensemen in scoring, fourth all-time. He has 21 points (7-14=21) in 43 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests with the Penguins (2008-10), the Stars (2013-14, 2015-15) and the Coyotes (2019-20) and won the 2009 Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh.
Goligoski skated in three seasons with the University of Minnesota and totaled 98 points (25-73=98) in 117 games (2004-07). He was named to the 2005 WCHA All-Rookie team, the 2006 WCHA Second All-Star team, the 2007 WCHA First All-Star team and the 2007 NCAA West First All-American team. The defenseman has represented the United States at the 2012 IIHF World Championship and at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship. He played hockey at Grand Rapids High School and was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round (61st overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft.
