The Minnesota Wild made an interesting move today when they signed a highly coveted free agent. . .highly coveted despite not playing in the NHL last season.
↵The Wild signed German goaltender Dennis Endras, the MVP of the 2010 IHF World Championship, to a contract.
↵↵↵The 24-year-old stopper was named MVP of the tournament while leading Germany to a fourth place finish, its highest ranking since it claimed a silver medal in 1953. He went 4-2 and led all goaltenders with a 1.15 goals against average and a .961 save percentage. He was also named the tournament’s Best Goaltender and earned a spot on the World Championship All Star team.
↵Some may recall that it was Endras who stymied Team USA (and assistant coach Todd Richards) in the first game of the tournament in front of a world record crowd of 76,152 at Veltins Arena. Endras stopped 31 of 32 shots as Germany won in overtime, 2-1.
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Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has already said that Endras will play this season in Germany, and then come to the States full time starting with the 2011-2012 season.