THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER -- Niklas Backstrom is staying put.
The Minnesota Wild have signed the all-star goalie to a US$24-million, four-year contract, keeping him from becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer.
It was what both sides wanted all along.
"My goal was to stay here and I'm really happy its possible," Backstrom said Tuesday before facing the Vancouver Canucks. "It's sort of like a second dream come true after you got a shot to play in the NHL.
"Now I have a chance to stay here for years to come."
Backstrom has been among the top goalies in the league the past couple years. He's earning $3.1 million this season.
The 31-year-old has a record of 28-18-4 this season and is among the league leaders with a .925 save percentage and 2.24 goals-against average.
If the Wild hadn't re-signed Backstrom, GM Doug Risebrough would have faced a tough decision about whether or not he should be traded before Wednesday's deadline.
That potential scenario wasn't something the goalie was overly concerned about.
"I didn't think too much about it so I didn't let it bother me," said Backstrom. "I was thinking the only thing I can do is play as well as I can and just worry about the hockey games.
"If you play well, the rest will take care of itself."
Backstrom spent several seasons playing in Europe before joining the Wild as a free agent in the summer of 2006.
In 150 career appearances for Minnesota, he has a record of 84-39-33 with a .924 save percentage and 2.19 GAA.
