TORONTO - Fresh out of cap space, the North Stars made a depth move today in re-signing winger Tyler Yzerman to one-year deal worth $500,000.

Despite a few holes in their 3rd and 4th lines, the decision to bring back the oft-injured skater comes as a bit of a surprise. When asked about the deal earlier in the day, North Stars' general manager JNH made it clear the club was not ready to give up on Yzerman just yet:

"Tyler is a talented, young hockey player who has seen a string of back luck by way of injuries suffered since his pre-SMJHL draft process. We like what we're seeing from him this offseason, he's healthy, having a great camp with Team USA at the IHF Juniors...he'll be good to go when we drop puck in Season 19."

Yzerman was nothing short of excited when questioned about his new deal. Leaving the ice after a morning skate with Team USA at the IHF World Junior Championships, the Buffalo-native stopped by reporters:

"I feel great right now...a thousand-percent healthy," Yzerman proclaimed. "[These] past couple of seasons have been incredibly tough but I'm excited to finally get my SHL career started and there's no better franchise to do it with than the Toronto North Stars."

A highly touted prospect coming out of high school, Yzerman battled shoulder and lower back injuries as he posted dismal numbers during Season 17 with St. Louis. Despite the disappointing stint in the SMJHL, Yzerman's raw talent and combine showing impressed enough to get him drafted in Round 3 of the Season 18 draft by the Hamilton Steelhawks.

After aggravating his back during an offseason workout, Hamilton abruptly traded Yzerman as part of a trade with Toronto. Knowing he'd miss the entire Season 18, JNH agreed to a one-year deal with Yzerman, allowing the franchise to "wait and see" regarding Season 19.

Yzerman was cleared for full contact shortly before the beginning of the Season 19 playoffs. After several workouts with Team USA, Yzerman was selected and is currently slotted to play along the right wing of the American's top line. According to JNH, Yzerman will join North Stars' camp immediately following the World Juniors.

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#40 Niclas Wastlund - W - VANCOUVER WHALERS / MINNESOTA MONARCHS


NICLAS WASTLUND | HOF GM (LAP) - 1080 - 800 -178
Name: Niclas Wastlund
Age: 61
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 235 lbs
Number: 77
Birthplace: Hudiksvall, Sweden
Birthday: July 16th
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EEL Career Statistics
S1 STHLM: GP: 60 || G: 4 || A: 20 || P: 24 || +/-: 13 || PIMS: 112 || H: 133 || SB: 100
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NWJHL Career Statistics
S7 VAN: GP: 38 || G: 5 || A: 22 || P: 27 || +/-: 18 || PIMS: 22 || H: 63 || SB: 50
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SHL Career Statistics
S8 MIN: GP: 45 || G: 2 || A: 15 || P: 17 || +/-: 10 || PIMS: 81 || H: 54 || SB: 38 || TA: 23
S9 MIN: GP: 50 || G: 9 || A: 24|| P: 33 || +/-: 17 || PIMS: 95 || H: 116 || SB: 37 || TA: 60
S10 MIN: GP: 50 || G: 25 || A: 33 || P: 58 || +/-: 25 || PIMS: 62 || H: 136 || SB: 44 || TA: 38
S11 MIN: GP: 50 || G: 29 || A: 27 || P: 56 || +/-: 48 || PIMS: 31 || H: 194 || SB: 52 || TA: 41
S12 MIN: GP: 27 || G: 4 || A: 19 || P: 23 || +/-: 2 || PIMS: 31 || H: 60 || SB: 20 || TA: 00
S13 MIN: GP: 50 || G: 7 || A: 33 || P: 40 || +/-: 11 || PIMS: 57 || H: 91 || SB: 67 || TA: 0
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SHL Playoff Statistics
S8 MIN: GP: 12 || G: 1 || A: 5 || P: 6 || +/-: 2 || PIMS: 18 || H: 7 || SB: 14 || TA: 5
S9 MIN: GP: 7 || G: 1 || A: 1 || P: 2 || +/-: -3 || PIMS: 2 || H: 16 || SB: 6 || TA: 6
S10 MIN: GP: 21 || G: 6 || A: 5 || P: 11 || +/-: 5 || PIMS: 10 || H: 69 || SB: 14 || TA: 22
S11 MIN: GP: 11 || G: 5 || A: 3 || P: 8 || +/-: -8 || PIMS: 8 || H: 46 || SB: 12 || TA: 9
S12 MIN: GP: 15 || G: 1 || A: 13 || P: 14 || +/-: 5 || PIMS: 16 || H: 32 || SB: 9 || TA: NA
S13 MIN: GP: 9 || G: 2 || A: 8 || P: 10 || +/-: 0 || PIMS: 2 || H: 22 || SB: 20 || TA: NA
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SHL General Manager Record
S15 LAP: W: 20 || L: 24 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 46 || RESULT: 6th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S16 LAP: W: 33 || L: 15 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 68 || RESULT: 1st WEST  - LOST in 1st Round to EDM
S17 LAP: W: 29 || L: 16 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 63 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPIONS 
S18 LAP: W: 25 || L: 23 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 52 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S19 LAP: W: 27 || L: 17 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 60 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - LOST in 1st Round to SEA
S20 LAP: W: 26 || L: 15 || OTL: 9 ||  PTS: 61 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - LOST in 1st Round to TEX
S21 LAP: W: 26 || L: 19 || OTL: 7 ||  PTS: 59 || RESULT: 4th WEST - LOST 1st Round to TEX
S22 LAP: W: 33 || L: 13 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 72 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - LOST in Challenge Cup Finals to MAN
S23 LAP: W: 30 || L: 18 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 64 || RESULT: 1st WEST - LOST 1st Round to SEA
S24 LAP: W: 31 || L: 12 || OTL: 9 ||  PTS: 71 || RESULT: 1st WEST - LOST in Challenge Cup Finals to HAM
S25 LAP: W: 25 || L: 20 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 55 || RESULT: 6th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S26 LAP: W: 26 || L: 22 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 54 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S27 LAP: W: 26 || L: 20 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 56 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S28 LAP: W: 26 || L: 17 || OTL: 7 ||  PTS: 59 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S29 LAP: W: 16 || L: 31 || OTL: 3 ||  PTS: 35 || RESULT: 6th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S30 LAP: W: 22 || L: 25 || OTL: 3 ||  PTS: 47 || RESULT: 6th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S31 LAP: W: 27 || L: 22 || OTL: 1 ||  PTS: 55 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S32 LAP: W: 38 || L: 10 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 78 || RESULT: 1st WEST - LOST 1st Round to CAL
S33 LAP: W: 29 || L: 16 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 63 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - LOST 2nd Round to CAL
S34 LAP: W: 30 || L: 12 || OTL: 8 ||  PTS: 68 || RESULT: 1st WEST - LOST 1st Round to TEX
S35 LAP: W: 28 || L: 18 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 60 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - LOST 1st Round to POR
S36 LAP: W: 24 || L: 22 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 52 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S37 LAP: W: 25 || L: 20 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 55 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S38 LAP: W: 20 || L: 26 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 44 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S39 LAP: W: 25 || L: 19 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 56 || RESULT: 4th WEST - LOST Challenge Cup Final to MIN
S40 LAP: W: 25 || L: 18 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 57 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S41 LAP: W: 33 || L: 13 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 70 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - LOST Challenge Cup Final to WKP
S42 LAP: W: 28 || L: 22 || OTL: 0 ||  PTS: 56 || RESULT: 4th WEST - LOST 1st Round to EDM
S43 LAP: W: 28 || L: 20 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 58 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - LOST 2nd Round to WPG
S44 LAP: W: 30 || L: 16 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 64 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - LOST 1st Round to WPG
S45 LAP: W: 24 || L: 20 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 54 || RESULT: 4th WEST - LOST 1st Round to EDM
S46 LAP: W: 25 || L: 20 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 55 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - 2nd in Southwest -
S47 LAP: W: 20 || L: 25 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 45 || RESULT: 7th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S48 LAP: W: 20 || L: 29 || OTL: 1 ||  PTS: 41 || RESULT: 8th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S49 LAP: W: 21 || L: 19 || OTL: 10 ||  PTS: 52 || RESULT: 5th WEST - LOST Wildcard Round to EDM
S50 LAP: W: 26 || L: 23 || OTL: 1 ||  PTS: 53 || RESULT: 5th WEST - LOST Wildcard Round to CAL
S51 LAP: W: 21 || L: 25 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 46 || RESULT: 5th WEST - LOST Western Conference Finals to EDM
S52 LAP: W: 25 || L: 21 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 54 || RESULT: 4th WEST -
S53 LAP: W: 00 || L: 00 || OTL: 0 ||  PTS: 00 || RESULT: ??? WEST -
Total Record: W: 991 || L:  743 || OTL: 170  || TOTAL: 1,904
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Transactions:
Drafted 11th overall by Stockholm in the S1 EEL Draft
Drafted 7th Overall by Vancouver in EEL Supplemental Draft
Drafted 4th Overall by Minnesota in the S8 SHL Draft
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Accomplishments:
Named S1 Stampede Team Captain
Season 1 EEL All-Star Selection 
Named S7 Vancouver Alternate Captain
S7 Raymond Lindsay Award Winner (Fan voted League MVP)
Season 7 NWJHL All-Star Selection - 1st Overall in Fantasy Draft
1st Defenseman Taken in the S8 Draft
GM of Team Sweden at the S8 WJC
Team Sweden - Gold Medal Winner S8 WJC
S8 SHL All-Star
S9 SHL All-Star
S10 SHL All-Star - Voted #2 Starting D
S11 SHL All-Star - Voted #1 Starting D
S13 SHL All-Star
S9 Minnesota Chiefs Alternate Captain
S10 Minnesota Chiefs Alternate Captain
S11 Minnesota Chiefs Alternate Captain
S12 Minnesota Chiefs Alternate Captain
Team Sweden - S10 Olympic Team Captain
S10 Challenge Cup Champion - Minnesota Chiefs
S12 Challenge Cup Champion - Minnesota Chiefs
S10 Stevens Trophy Runner-Up
Vancouver Whalers' Top D-Man Trophy named "Niclas Wastlund Trophy"
** Suspended for 25 games in S12.
League Record for Best Plus/Minus in S11 for +48
Hired as Los Angeles Panthers GM - S15
Won Western Conference Title - S16
S17 Challenge Cup Champion - GM LA Panthers
S17 JJ Krever Award Winner (Top GM)
S22 Clarence Campbell Trophy Winner
S23 President's Trophy Award Winner
S24 President's Trophy Award Winner
S32 President's Trophy Award Winner
S32 Lance Uppercut Trophy Award Winner (Top GM)
S32 Joe McKeil Trophy Award Winner (Top Coach)
S34 Joe McKeil Trophy Award Winner (Top Coach)
S42 Joe McKeil Trophy Award Winner (Top Coach)
S43 Game 331 - 4-1 WIN v.s Toronto North Stars - 778th Win - 1st to hit this mark - Most Wins as a GM in SHL History
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Contract:
Signed 3yr/10.5M Contract in S8 with NTC.
Signed 5yr/18M Contract Extension in S10 with NTC
Retired S13
Retired as LA Panthers GM After the S55 Season

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