Wild release Stafford from PTO; fanbase reacts to the decision!

At the beginning of September, the Minnesota Wild and its new general manager Bill Guerin announced that veteran forward Drew Stafford had been invited to join the club on a professional tryout agreement (PTO). 

The fanbase was delighted to hear that Stafford would get another shot, especially going back to play in Minnesota. Prior to starting his NHL career, he played three years at North Dakota in the WCHA and Shattuck-Saint Mary’s down in Faribault, Minnesota.

A return to Minnesota seemed to make sense.

However on Friday, team insider Michael Russo of The Athletic revealed that Stafford had been released from his tryout. He added that the Wild has also assigned Nico Sturm and Gerry Mayhew to Iowa. The roster is now down to 26 players. 

The 33-year-old veteran was hoping to keep his career going, after appearing in contest with the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils. In 841 career games, he has accumulated 196 goals and 428 points. 

Fans were quick to react to his release on social media, feeling disappointed that the Wild has chosen to part ways with Stafford. 

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