Wild Sign Rieger Lorenz and Ben Dexheimer to Entry-Level Contracts

Just days after the conclusion of the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four, the Minnesota Wild announced Wednesday that they have signed forward Rieger Lorenz and defenseman Ben Dexheimer to entry-level contracts.

Both players’ contracts are set to begin in the 2026-27 season. In the interim, both Lorenz and Dexheimer will report to the AHL’s Iowa Wild on Amateur Tryout Agreements (ATOs) to finish the current campaign.

For Lorenz, the signing is a homecoming of sorts to the organization that drafted him 56th overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old winger arrives in Minnesota as a two-time National Champion with the University of Denver (2024, 2026). He put up 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 43 games played this season, setting career bests in all three categories in his senior year.

Dexheimer, 23, blossomed into one of the premier offensive defensemen in the Big Ten. Standing at 5-foot-10, his mobility and vision were on full display during the tournament, where he earned a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament Team after leading Wisconsin to its first championship appearance in 16 years. Dexheimer scored 7 goals and dished out 21 assists for 28 points in 39 games played this year.