"You guys know how highly I spoke of this organization and the guys," Middleton said Thursday. "Little bit of security for myself and for my fiancee as well. It's something nice. We're very happy to be here."
The 26-year-old defenseman had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 66 games this season for the Wild and San Jose Sharks, and one assist in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. Middleton was acquired by Minnesota in a trade with San Jose on March 21 for goalie Kaapo Kahkonen and a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
"Well, I would credit it to just the organization and the guys that they brought in and then helped build this core around," Middleton said of his smooth transition after the trade. "Everyone from 'Moose' (Marcus Foligno), 'Spurge' (Jared Spurgeon), everybody, they were some of the first guys to reach out yesterday and congratulate me and just wish me all the best and how happy they are to have me. So I think those, the guys in the room, the guys in the front office, everyone is such a good person that it was a seamless fit."
Middleton, who led the Wild with a plus-6 rating when they lost the Western Conference First Round to the St. Louis Blues in six games, could have become a restricted free agent July 13.
"Honestly, I think it's a lot to do with him and his personality and the way that he fit in with all the guys," Wild general manager Bill Guerin said. "Obviously, his play is something that speaks for itself. He was a really good fit with Spurge I thought. I think Minnesota is a place that Jake really liked. Yeah, it just seemed like a really good fit."
A seventh-round pick (No. 210) by the Los Angeles Kings at the 2014 NHL Draft, Middleton has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 80 games with the Sharks and Wild. He made his playoff debut with Minnesota this season.
NHL.com independent correspondent Jessi Pierce contributed to this report
