Haula and Tuch React to Leaving the Wild for Vegas
"I'm really excited. It's a fresh start," Haula said by phone Thursday from the island of Capri, where he was wrapping up an Italian vacation with his girlfriend. "You knew where you were going to be going into camp with Minnesota, but here, I get a chance to compete for those top spots, which is the chance you want. I understand that nothing's ever given and I've learned that throughout my days. But hopefully I can go in there and make a really good impression and get a chance to play some of those top minutes."
"[Wednesday] was a very crazy day for me," Tuch said. "It started with a rumor and turned into a life changing phone call. To be a part of a historic event like the 2017 expansion draft is amazing. I understood the risk of the draft and leaving the Minnesota Wild organization will be difficult. They have been amazing to my family and I over the past few years and I wouldn't be where I am without the support of such a great organization."
Fletcher made clear he explained to center Eric Staal when left unprotected that he was confident the veteran center was safe from being protected. "We had this arrangement with Vegas [for Haula] now for close to a week," Fletcher said. "So I was able to talk to Eric early on, and I don't Eric was ever in danger of not being with our club."