Wild Claim O'Sullivan; Latendresse To Have Surgery

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Wild claimed left wing Patrick O'Sullivan off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

The Wild also announced left wing Guillaume Latendresse needs two surgeries: for a torn labrum in his hip and for a bilateral sports hernia. He'll have the procedures on Wednesday.

Latendresse has three goals and three assists in eight games. He's coming off a breakout season, when he had 25 goals and 12 assists in 55 games for Minnesota after he was acquired in a trade with Montreal.

In acquiring O'Sullivan, the Wild brought back their second-round draft pick in 2003. He was traded in 2006 to the Los Angeles Kings for Pavol Demitra before appearing in a game for Minnesota.

O'Sullivan has bounced around since, appearing in 290 games over the past five seasons with Los Angeles, Edmonton and Carolina. The 25-year-old had one goal in 10 games for the Hurricanes this season.

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford told reporters in North Carolina that there just wasn't room for O'Sullivan at his position with the emergence of rookie Jeff Skinner.

"Sitting in the stands periodically and playing on the fourth line doesn't work," Rutherford said.

O'Sullivan said he's excited to return to his original organization.

"They know the type of player I am and the situation that they want me to play in there," O'Sullivan said. "It's going to be a good chance, and hopefully I can take advantage of it."

The Wild also reassigned forward Casey Welmman to their AHL affiliate in Houston.

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