Wild extend Alex Goligoski with two-year, $4 million contract

Minnesota Wild defenseman Alex Goligoski will turn 37 years old this summer but isn't slowing down even though he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins all the way back in 2004. 

Goligoski apparently isn't considering hanging his skates up anytime soon.

According to the NHL's website, the Wild signed the native of Grand Rapids to a two-year contract that's worth a total of $4 million and carries an average annual value of $2 million. Per ESPN stats, Goligoski began Wednesday seventh in the league with a plus-34 rating, and he's also contributed two goals and 26 assists across 58 games during his first season with the organization. 

He originally signed a one-year, $5 million deal with Minnesota last July. 

"It's home. You know, I think everyone has that desire to play for their home state at some point if they have a team that plays there," Goligoski said of featuring for the Wild last summer. "And I think it's a great fit for me. I think the team's good too. That was the main thing for me was I want to play some winning hockey and have a chance. ... Just really impressive, so I think it's going to be a great fit and [I'm] excited." 

As the Associated Press (h/t ESPN) noted, Minnesota also has defensemen Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon locked down for the foreseeable future. Brodin is signed for six more years, while Spurgeon has five years left on his deal. 

The Wild are second in the Central Division standings with 86 points, four points up on the third-place Nashville Predators but 14 points back of the division-leading Colorado Avalanche.