Always in the need for some more scoring, especially from talented wingers, the Minnesota Wild have signed minor league hockey veteran Jean-Michael Daoust to a one-year contract. Daoust has was once part of the Pittsburgh Penguins system, before signing as a free agent with the Houston Aeros of the AHL.
The 26-year old was the leading scorer for the Aeros last season, with 55 points in 78 games. While it’s just a two-way contract, it’s a good deal for both sides as the Wild now have another option on the wing for next season.
He’s not exactly going to step in and set the world on fire in Minnesota, but a team that is still struggling to overcome the defensive trap systems of years past can always use goal-scoring wingers. From the team’s press release:
“Jean-Michel had a great season to lead Houston in scoring and showcased his skill on a consistent basis,” said Assistant to the General Manager Jim Mill, who also serves as the Aeros General Manager. “He has earned this opportunity.”
The 26-year-old’s contract is a two-way deal after he signed an AHL free agent contract last season. In a season full of Wild call-ups from Houston, Daoust wasn’t eligible to join the NHL club unless the team had signed him mid-season, and tore up his AHL deal.
“I knew he was a really good player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton,” said Mill when asked if Daoust’s production surprised him. “He worked his way up from the ECHL to the American League, and he never gave up. He always kept working, and he really did a great job last year.”