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Report: Haula seeking $1.2 million in arbitration, Wild countering at $775K

haulagetty

James OBrien

Here’s the latest on Erik Haula’s negotiations with Minnesota heading into Friday’s arbitration hearing, from the Star-Tribune:

The Wild is looking to pay Haula $775,000 next season and Haula is seeking $1.2 million, sources confirm. If the sides go through with arbitration and don’t settle before an arbitrator makes his decision, the arbitrator will choose his own number equal to or between the ranges after hearing each side’s argument.

Since Haula filed for arbitration, the Wild gets to pick the term. The Wild has opted for a one-year award, sources say.

The $775,000 would represent a pay cut for Haula, who had a $900,000 cap hit on his last deal, a two-year pact.

The speedy Finnish forward is coming off an uneven campaign. While he did post career highs in games played (72), goals (seven) and points (14), the 24-year-old was scratched for eight of Minnesota’s 10 playoff games. That was a far cry from Haula’s breakout ’14 playoff run, in which he scored four goals and seven points in 13 games.

All that said, Haula is one of the Wild’s best penalty killers, and the Wild had the NHL’s best PK unit a year ago.