Report: Minnesota Wild sign Minnesota Golden Gophers captain Sammy Walker

The Minnesota Wild have signed NCAA free agent forward Sammy Walker to an entry-level contract, according to a report by The Athletic‘s Michael Russo.

Walker, 23, spent the last four seasons playing at the University of Minnesota, serving as team captain since his sophomore year.

The 5’11”, 180-pound forward scored 14 goals and 27 points in 39 NCAA games with the Golden Gophers during the 2021–22 season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning originally selected Walker in the seventh round (No. 200 overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

The Edina, Minnesota product joined the Golden Gophers in 2018 and spent his entire NCAA career with the team, scoring 48 goals and 112 points in 144 games.

As per the terms of the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Walker’s entry-level deal will run for two years. He’ll be eligible to become a restricted free agent in July 2024.

Walker is expected to start his professional career in the American Hockey League with the Iowa Wild, where he’ll battle for ice time with the likes of Vladislav Firstov, Mitchell Chaffee, Mason Shaw, and Adam Beckman.