Wild sign D Connelly to 2-year deal

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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild have signed defenseman Brian Connelly to a two-year contract.

The Wild announced the news Friday. Connelly led all AHL defensemen in scoring last season with 52 points on six goals and 46 assists while playing for Rockford and Abbotsford.

It's a two-way deal, meaning Connelly will be paid more if he is playing with the Wild and less if he is with the club's AHL affiliate in Houston. From nearby Bloomington, he played three seasons at Colorado College.

It's been a busy week for the Wild, who surprised the NHL by signing forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter to matching $98 million contracts Wednesday.

The Wild also signed defenseman Justin Falk this week.

Parise and Suter are scheduled to hold an introductory news conference Monday.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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