ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has re-signed defenseman Erik Reitz (pronounced REETZ) to a 2008-09 contract. The Wild, on Tuesday, acquired defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron (pronounced BUHR-zhuhr-ohn) from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for the Wild’s third round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Reitz, 25 (7/29/82), posted 34 points (8-26=34) including five power play goals and 99 penalty minutes (PIM) in 49 games with Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2007-08. He ranked fourth on the team in scoring despite missing 31 games due to injury, finished second among Aeros defensemen with a plus-11 rating and was named a starter for the PlanetUSA AHL All-Star team. Reitz appeared in Game Five and Game Six of the Wild’s Western Conference Quarterfinal series against the Colorado Avalanche and skated in three Calder Cup Playoff games with Houston. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound native of Detroit, Mich., has played six career games with the Wild, accruing four PIM.

He was Minnesota’s sixth-round selection (170th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Reitz made his NHL debut with the Wild on April 7, 2006, at Calgary. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Bergeron, 27 (10/13/80), split the 2007-08 NHL campaign with the New York Islanders and the Anaheim Ducks and ranked tied for sixth among League defenseman with eight power play goals. The 5-foot-10, 197-pound native of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec has tallied 128 points (48-80=128) including 131 penalty minutes (PIM) and 29 power play goals in 267 career NHL contests during five seasons with Edmonton, the New York Islanders and Anaheim.

Stay tuned to AEROS.com during the offseason for further transactions with the 2008 NHL Entry Draft's first round starting on June 20 and the NHL free agency period on July 1. Aeros season tickets and Voucher Books are on sale now and its not too late for early-bird specials!