Patrick O’Sullivan claimed by Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild claimed former Carolina Hurricanes forward Patrick O’Sullivan off waivers on Tuesday.
O’Sullivan was signed by the Hurricanes to a one-year contract over the summer, but was unable to maintain a starting job with the club throughout the early portion of the schedule.
The Hurricanes made the decision to waive the 25-year-old after he became a healthy scratch on a regular basis.
O’Sullivan has struggled to find his game since leaving the Los Angeles Kings in 2008-09. Since that time the Toronto native has had three different teams, joining the Oilers at the end of the 2008-09 season and then being signed by the Hurricanes before
he was picked up by the Wild.
“We’re happy that Patrick is getting an opportunity, which didn’t arise here because of the play of Sergei [Samsonov], Jussi [Jokinen] and Jeff [Skinner],” Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. “For him to be successful he has to play
in the top nine and that spot did not open up for him here.”
O’Sullivan may still be a capable NHL player, as the youngster has shown that if given the opportunity, he can become a regular contributor. O’Sullivan’s best year came in 2007-08 when he registered 22 goals and 53 points for the Kings. Last season the forward
also managed 34 points in 73 games. The Wild are hoping he will be able to rediscover his game in St. Paul.
The O’Sullivan pick up is worth the risk for the Wild, as he only earns $600,000 this season and Minnesota needs all the help they can get up front, as they are fourth worst in the League, averaging only 2.42 goals per game.
So far this season, O’Sullivan has only managed one goal in 10 games.
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