In Balsam Lake, Wisc., on Saturday, more than 20 members of the Nanne and Lettieri clan, including Vinni Lettieri’s fiancée, did a 5K.

“I did 4,” said Lou Nanne, Vinni’s grandfather. “I mean, I could have done five, but I didn’t want to spend all that time at it.”

Nanne is a Minnesota treasure.

The former North Stars general manager, coach and player and former Gophers defenseman is beloved in these parts. His spots with Dan Barreiro on KFAN will often leave you howling.

Advertisement

But let’s be honest: When the weather turns chilly, Nanne gets out of Dodge in a hurry, heading with his wife, Francine, to their condo in Palm Beach, Fla.

Well, Nanne plans to spend a lot more time in the Midwest this winter.

That’s because on Saturday, the first day of free agency, his 28-year-old grandson, Vinni, signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Wild — a deal that will pay him $775,000 annually when he’s in the NHL and $550,000 when he’s in the minors. In recent years, Lettieri has been the highest-paid player in the minors on an NHL contract and often leads his team in goals per game when not in the NHL.

The Wild also signed former Michigan Tech forward Jake Lucchini to a one-year, two-way $775, 000 contract. He scored a goal in 11 games for Ottawa last season and has 137 points in 237 AHL games.

Lettieri, a right-shot forward who can play center or wing, has excellent speed and a terrific shot. His hope is to crack the Wild’s lineup out of training camp this fall. If not, he knows he could spend time in Des Moines, home of the Wild’s AHL affiliate.

“I’m so stoked,” Lettieri told The Athletic. “I’ve played six years now. To have my seventh year be with Minny is a dream come true. Every Minnesota guy I know, when the season ends or when you’re coming home from Christmas break, when you’re boarding that flight to get back to Minnesota, you have a jolt of energy just to get back.

“Minnesota has always had my heart, and I’ve always wanted to play for the Wild. I just never knew if it was going to happen or when the time would be. It’s built in me.”

Lettieri was in Austin, Texas, at former Rangers teammate Kevin Hayes’ bachelor party when he signed his contract Saturday. In one week, he will be in Chaska, Minn., where he’ll marry his longtime girlfriend, Cassandra Bunks.

Advertisement

So, to say the least, this is an exciting time in Lettieri’s life.

“This is the best wedding gift he could get,” his mom, Michelle, said Saturday.

“It’s honestly too good to be true,” Lettieri said. “Getting married, and signing with the Wild, this all hasn’t really hit yet.”

Back in Wisconsin, after their 5K, the Nanne/Lettieri family returned to the Nanne compound at a beautiful portion of Balsam Lake. It’s a spot where boats have been known to pass by, see Lettieri’s grandfather eating salami off a charcuterie board and sipping on a glass of chianti and yell, “Louie!!!!!”

The Nannes and Lettieris had kept the news of Vinni’s possibly signing with the Wild a secret from most of the family. Tino Lettieri, Vinni’s dad and a former professional soccer player, broke the news Saturday to the family by leaving cupcakes on the kitchen counter.

On each was frosting with Lettieri’s No. 95 and the Wild logo. Tino, a chef, has been developing cupcakes for Wuollet Bakery. He’s recently made them for the Kentucky Derby, Luke Combs and Steve Aoki.

Now he had the chance to make them with his son as a theme.

Everybody went crazy, especially his little cousins and no one more than Vinni’s sister, Bianca, who is seven years older and at least got the heads-up from her brother.

“Absolutely ecstatic,” Michelle said. “She kept saying, ‘No way, no way.’ She was literally jumping up and down like a jumping bean. She’s probably his biggest cheerleader besides his soon-to-be-wife and all of us. It is just going to be great that he can be either here in our backyard or in Iowa, which is just a four-hour drive. We’re thrilled for him, absolutely thrilled. For any Minnesota kid, it’s a dream come true ”

A standout from Minnetonka High School, where he played hockey and was a placekicker on the football team, Lettieri went on to play at University of Minnesota. After breaking out his senior year with the Gophers with 19 goals and 37 points, he signed a free-agent contract with the Rangers, and he’s been a successful up-and-down player ever since with the Rangers, Ducks and Bruins.

How did Minnesota's own Vinni Lettieri end up on the @NYRangers? Grandfather Lou Nanne's deep-dive analysis is partially to thank.@RussoHockey sat with the family Tuesday for a great account of Lettieri's rise to the NHL.

— The Athletic Minnesota (@TheAthleticMIN) February 14, 2018

In the minors, he has been prolific, scoring 116 goals and 229 points in 267 games with Hartford, San Diego and Providence. In 83 games for the Rangers, Ducks and Bruins, he has scored seven goals and 18 points.

Advertisement

He’s been so valued in those organizations, it’s believed Boston and Anaheim were pushing to bring him back before he chose to sign with his hometown team.

Sometimes players from Minnesota don’t want to play for the Wild. But Lettieri is up for the challenge and glad after college he ventured off and had a chance to establish his game elsewhere.

But this is somebody who grew up a Wild fan, attending games his whole life with his parents and grandparents, who have been season-ticket holders since Day 1.

“This is where he wants to be,” Nanne said. “He’s had 83 games in the league now, which is good. Hopefully he gets a chance here. He’s so effective on the power play shooting off the pass in the minors, but he hasn’t really had that opportunity yet in the NHL. But every place in the minors, he fills the net. So I always hope that somebody thinks, ‘Maybe we should try this.’

“I don’t get involved. I don’t say anything. But inside, I just see things that I wish would come to fruition in the NHL. He believes in himself, which is terrific. I’ve told him, ‘You can’t talk yourself into the league. You’ve got to earn your job.’ I really like the strength of his conviction and the belief in his ability.”

The Wild have a little more than $7 million in cap space and have still not re-signed restricted free agents Filip Gustavsson, Brandon Duhaime and Calen Addison. There are two forward spots open for internal competition, like Adam Beckman, Sammy Walker and Nic Petan and perhaps Lettieri.

“Obviously I want to have a one-way and I believe I should have one, but that’s not what’s happening right now,” Lettieri said. “It’s a good (salary) for the cap, especially for Minnesota’s tighter cap where they may need cheaper players around. And I know my ability is in the NHL, so I don’t feel the two-way part necessarily means I’ll be in Iowa or Minnesota. It’ll be up to me to prove myself in camp.

Advertisement

“I couldn’t be more excited. Honestly, it hasn’t hit me yet that I won’t have to pack up and leave in training camp. It’s crazy to me. I’ll get to stay right here. Just can’t wait to get to TRIA and get started.”

(Top photo of Vinni Lettieri and Colton Parayko: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)