SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild Executive Vice President/General Manager Doug Risebrough announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed goaltender Johan Holmqvist (YO-han HOLM-kwist) to a multi-year contract.



Holmqvist, 25 (5/24/78), won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the American Hockey League’s playoff Most Valuable Player as he led Houston to the 2003 Calder Cup. Holmqvist set AHL records for most games played (23), wins (15) and minutes (1,499) in one playoff season. Holmqvist allowed two goals or less in 17 of 23 playoff games and posted the first road shutout in a Game Seven of the Calder Cup Finals in AHL history.



The Toskala, Sweden-native was assigned to Houston on March 11 following a trade between Minnesota and the New York Rangers. Holmqvist posted five wins and three losses in eight regular season games with the Aeros. In the playoffs, Holmqvist was Houston’s top player. He started all 23 of the Aeros playoff games and recorded 15 wins and eight losses with a 2.00 goals against average and .928 save percentage.



Holmqvist played three seasons in the New York Rangers organization. In 2002-03, he played 35 games with Hartford (AHL) and posted a record of 14 wins, 13 losses and five ties. Holmqvist also appeared in one game with the Rangers, allowing two goals in 39 minutes of work. Holmqvist played 48 games for the Wolf Pack in 2001-02, registering 26 wins, 12 losses and six ties with a 3.07 GAA. Holmqvist spent the majority of the 2000-01 season with Hartford. He went 19-14-4 with a 2.89 GAA in 43 games and also made his NHL debut with the Rangers in 2000-01, recording two losses in two games.



Prior to joining the Rangers organization, Holmqvist played three seasons for Brynas IF Gavle in the Swedish Elite League. He appeared in 117 games with a 2.67 GAA. He won the Swedish Elite League championship in 1998-99 and was a First Team All-Star in 1999-2000. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.



Johan Holmqvist Career Statistics

Goaltender Catches: Left

Height: 6’3 Weight: 195

Born: May 24, 1978 in Tolfta, Sweden

Drafted: 1997 in 7th Round (175th overall) by New York Rangers



Regular Season Playoffs

Year Team LGE GP W L T/OTL MIN GA AVG GP W L GAA

1996-97 Brynas IF Gavle SEL 2 0 0 0 80 4 3.00 - - - -

1997-98 Brynas IF Gavle SEL 33 0 0 0 1897 82 2.59 3 0 3 4.67

1998-99 Brynas IF Gavle SEL 41 0 0 0 2383 111 2.79 14 9 5 2.39

1999-00 Brynas IF Gavle SEL 49 0 0 0 2402 104 2.60 11 0 0 2.68

2000-01 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 43 19 14 15 2305 111 2.89 5 2 3 2.48

New York Rangers NHL 2 0 2 0 119 10 5.04 - - -

2001-02 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 48 26 12 6 2733 140 3.07 4 1 2 4.41

2002-03 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 1 1 0 0 60 2 2.00 - - - -

New York Rangers NHL 1 0 1 0 39 2 3.08 - - - -

Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 35 14 13 5 1904 84 2.65 - - - -

HOUSTON AHL 8 5 3 0 479 23 2.88 23 15 8 2.00

NHL Totals 3 0 3 0 158 12 4.56 - - - -

AHL Totals 134 64 42 26 7,421 358 2.89 32 18 13 -

Pro Totals 251 65 45 26 14,401 673 2.80 60 27 21 -