More NHL: Trades | Scores | Standings | League Leaders | Odds | Power Rankings
The biggest fish on the college free-agent market has been been snared. Christian Folin is the newest member of the Minnesota Wild.
The UMass-Lowell sophomore defenseman was the prize of this year's FA crop from the college ranks and when Lowell was knocked out of the NCAA tournament this past weekend, the sweepstakes to try and sign him began. With all offers limited on entry-level deals it became a matter of where Folin thought the best fit would be.
That fit was in Minnesota.
BREAKING: #mnwild signs free-agent D @ChristianFolin from UMass Lowell. Expected to meet team in Chicago. More coming http://t.co/XGNIbLIrCx
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 1, 2014
A big-bodied defenseman, Folin is the quality of free agent that can step right in to the NHL like Danny DeKeyser in Detroit last season, though expectations should be kept in check at the start. Still, Minnesota could use a quality body on defense to further fortify their blue line and Folin can do that for now with great potential moving forward.
Oh yeah, he has a pretty hard shot too.
From all indications, the decision for Folin came down to Minnesota and the Flyers who, as we know, are always on the hunt for impact defensemen.
This season for UMass-Lowell, the 6'3 defenseman had six goals and 14 assists in 41 games.
Our Chris Peters wrote about Folin last week and the type of impact that he will bring to the NHL. Enjoy, Wild fans.
