The Minnesota Wild are looking to add another defenseman to their pool of potential prospects.
Multiple league officials said Monday that the team is close to signing 2021 second-round pick Jack Peart to a three-year entry-level contract. His contract begins in the 2024-25 season, but he is expected to sign an amateur tryout to play at Iowa for the remainder of the season. He is expected to report to Des Moines as early as Tuesday.
Peart, 20, could have returned to St. Cloud State for his senior season, but opted to turn pro after St. Cloud State's season ended in overtime against the University of Denver on Friday.
Peart will likely continue to be a starter for AHL Iowa next season, joining a prospect pool that includes Damon Hunt, Carson Lambos, Ryan O'Rourke, David Spacek and Kyle Masters.
The Grand Rapids, Minn., native led Grand Rapids High School in scoring as a defenseman with 11 goals and 35 points in 18 games, earning him the 2021 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award. He had three goals and 14 points in 38 games during his junior season with the Huskies, and eight goals and 55 points in 109 games in college.
“His numbers have dropped this season, but there's a lot more to a player's game than just stats,” Wild assistant director of player development Matt Hendricks said on KFAN Saturday morning. “The growth he's shown defensively has been eye-opening for us this year. He's really, really starting to trust his feet defensively.
“He has the ability to compete in the corners and defend in front of the net. Those are things that will allow him to be successful at the next level. … If you look at the offensive numbers, he's ultimately I think we'll bounce back from that, but Jack is a great player in terms of the way he sees the game, the way he thinks and the way he plays.”
Although not a huge point producer at St. Cloud State, Peart's biggest strengths are his ability to get back to the puck, beat the forecheck and transition plays to speedy forwards in the neutral zone to create offense off the rush. He's a good skater and a good passer.
Peart was named to the All-NCHC second team for the second consecutive season. After playing his final season in Grand Rapids, he appeared in 24 games with the USHL Fargo Force, scoring 15 points. Fargo scored seven points in nine playoff games and reached the Clark Cup finals, but lost to the Chicago Steel. He was named to his USHL All-Rookie second team.
The expected part-time deal comes just days after the Wild signed prospects Riley Hite and Rasmus Kumpalainen.as The Athletic As hinted a few weeks ago, the Wild do not appear to intend to sign 2022 sixth-round pick Selvak Petrovski before the June 1 deadline.
(Jack Peart Photo: Jason Soria/Courtesy of St. Cloud State)
