Tue Jul 1 16:48:12 2008

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Wild welcome Brunette back to fold

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St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Wild signed forward Andrew Brunette to a multi-year contract on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old picked up 19 goals and 59 points in 82 games for the rival Colorado Avalanche last season.

"Andrew is a consistent offensive performer and an excellent teammate who helped create the culture of our team," said team general manager Doug Risebrough. "We are better on the ice and in the dressing room with him back. Not often do you get a chance to correct a mistake."

Brunette had been a member of the Wild from 2001-2004, scoring 54 times and adding 110 assists in 245 regular-season games during his first tenure with the franchise.

He scored arguably the biggest playoff goal in team history, in Game 7 of the 2003 Western Conference quarterfinals against the Avalanche, eliminating the powerhouse club on its home ice after rebounding from a 3-1 series deficit. That season, Minnesota advanced to the conference finals, where it bowed to Cup finalist Anaheim.

Following the cancelled 2004-05 season, Brunette signed with the Avs, and enjoyed stellar years while skating on the club's top line alongside captain Joe Sakic. He posted career-highs with 27 goals, 56 assists and 83 points in 82 games two seasons ago.

In 788 games over 12 seasons with the Capitals, Predators, Thrashers, Wild and Avalanche, Brunette has amassed 191 goals and 549 points. He was a seventh- round pick of Washington back in 1993.