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July 1, 2007

Bruins acquire goalie Manny Fernandez

The Minnesota Wild traded goalie Manny Fernandez to the Boston Bruins on Sunday for forward Petr Kalus and a mid-round draft pick.

The Wild said the trade was approved by the NHL early Sunday morning. The NHL's salary cap increased Sunday, and Fernandez's $4.3 million salary would have pushed the Bruins over the $44 million cap if it had happened before then.

The 32-year-old Fernandez was one of three original Wild players remaining with the team. He had a record of 113-102-28 in 260 games with the Wild, with a 2.47 goals-aganst average and .914 save percentage. This past season, Fernandez and fellow goaltender Niklas Backstrom won the William Jennings Trophy, awarded to goalies on the team that gives up the fewest goals.

The goaltender had been on the trading block since the Wild signed Backstrom to a two-year, $6.2 million contract on June 7.

Fernandez has worn a Wild sweater for all six of the franchise's seasons. He came to Minnesota after playing sparingly in five seasons with the Dallas Stars and became a fan favorite while splitting time with Dwayne Roloson.

The Wild traded Roloson in 2006 and signed Fernandez to a three-year, $13 million extension to be the No. 1 goaltender. He started last season very well, but a knee injury flared up in December and knocked him out for good in January.

In 44 games last season, Fernandez posted a 2.55 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage, and Backstrom flourished. The little-known Finnish free agent led the league in save percentage (.929) and goals-against average (1.97), leading the Wild to their first playoff appearance since 2003.

The Wild picked up the Bruins' fourth-round pick in 2009 and the 20-year-old Kalus, a 2005 second-round pick by the Bruins who is considered a top prospect. He had four goals and an assist in nine games with Boston last season. In 43 games with Providence of the AHL, the Czech native scored 13 goals and had 30 points.

--AP

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 5:00 PM to Bruins | Permalink

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