WOLVES DEAL FOR OFFENSE ON DEFENSE

Matt Niskanen

Thunder Bay, Ont.- On the 16th of this month a trade was made between the Victoria Ronin and the Timberwolves. Two games later, and an official announcement has been made by Thunder Bay management.
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"As many of you are quite aware of by now. We have dealt defenseman, Douglas Murray and a recent 2011 draft pick in Stuart Percy to the Ronin for defensemen, Marek Zidlicky and Matt Niskanen," said general manager Blake Wendt. "Marek has already played two games for us, and has notched an assist in each of those games. He brings another dynamic by providing some much needed offense from our back end. Our power play in particular has recieved a much needed upgrade in acquiring Zidlicky. As a UFA, he will not likely be our lone re-sign. But we may opt to try and bring him back under the right circumstances."
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"In re-acquiring Matt Niskanen [dealt on July 16, 2010], we have a player for next season that we are completely comfortable implementing as a full-time starter. Something we were not going to have the luxury of with Douglas Murray being a UFA and to be lost to free agency for nothing. We were not prepared with the prospects of that, and not at liberty to be in bidding wars next summer for defensemen. Matt has a 3-year contract at a rate well within our budget for next season. It has been cited by some that he was nothing more than a 'throw in' in this deal. For that I can say with all honesty, this deal does not happen without Niskanen in it. He's a young man, still learning the game at arguably the toughest position to adjust to the pro speed. He's had his ups and downs, but we feel that he is most definitely progressing and will continue on towards becoming a dependable blueliner, with very good speed and skating ability to go along with being an offensive threat from the back end."
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As mentioned, Mark Zidlicky has played in two games with the Timberwolves. Wearing  number 4.
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Matt Niskanen was immediately assigned to the Duluth Pups. He has been assigned the same number 5 he wore previously with the Timberwolves.