When the Minnesota Wild signed forward Sam Steel to a one-year contract, after he was left unqualified by the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the summer, it was seen as an immense opportunity for both player and team. Steel, at just 24 years old, is getting a new opportunity with a team of his choosing, and the Wild are getting a former first-round pick that they believe has just not hit his stride.
Since making his NHL debut in the 2018-19 season, Steel has appeared in 197 games for the Ducks, scoring just 24 goals and 65 total points while averaging just over 14 minutes a game.