I read in the St Paul Pioneer Press that:
Former Minnesota Wild first round draft pick A.J. Thelen has agreed to a $50,000 deal to play for the Wild’s minor league Houston Aeros this season.
Thelen was released from the Wild in early June after spending the last three years in the juniors including an exile in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan with the lowly Raiders of the Western Hockey League. The defenseman had a rocky college hockey career at Michigan State and was eventually expelled from the team after being caught drinking underage by Coach Rick Comley. A.J. Thelen hopes to get a chance to play with his hometown Minnesota Wild team, especially since his parents are big fans and already hold fourth-row Wild season tickets behind the Wild bench.