ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild have signed forward Jason Zucker to an entry-level contract, planning to give one of their top prospects a taste of NHL playing time before the end of the season.

The deal was announced on Tuesday. Zucker was expected to join the team for practice on Wednesday and play on Thursday against the Florida Panthers.

Zucker was the Wild’s second-round draft pick in 2010. He played two years for the University of Denver, scoring 22 goals with 24 assists in 38 games this season as a sophomore for the Pioneers. Zucker was tied for ninth in the nation with nine power-play goals. The native of Las Vegas was the captain for the USA this year at the World Junior Championship.

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