What happened: The Minnesota Wild have signed forward Michael McCarron to a six-year contract, per the team. The deal secures the bottom-six forward in Minnesota for the long term.

Why it matters: A six-year commitment is a notable term length for a depth forward, signaling the Wild value McCarron's physical, bottom-six role as they build their forward group for the upcoming season. Locking him in removes a roster question and adds cost certainty down the lineup.

What to watch: Watch for the contract's financial terms and how McCarron's deal fits within Minnesota's salary-cap picture heading into the 2025-26 season.