Zack Torquato (Contributed/Erie Otters)

Erie Otters center Zack Torquato, 20, has signed an amateur tryout contract with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, he said today. The Wild hold his rights until Oct. 1.

“They just had the most interest,” Torquato said of the Wild, which contacted him after the NHL Entry Draft last month. “I figured that’s my best chance to play pro next year. I thought that’s the best fit for me.”

Torquato will play in the NHL Prospects Tournament in September in Traverse City, Mich., an event hosted by the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings selected Torquato in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, but chose not to sign him before the June 1 deadline.

“It will be a little different,” he said of facing the Red Wings, “but it will be fine.”

Instead, he will focus on earning an invitation to the Wild’s main camp in September.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Torquato, who will attend Otters’ camp next month. “I’m going to work hard to play my best there.”

Last summer, the Wild signed former Otters forward Justin Hodgman, 21, to an ATO. He played in the Prospects Tournament and attended main camp before being released. “My main goal is to make pro,” Torquato said. “But if I have to come back to Erie, it’s a great spot to play in my overage year.”

Torquato should focus on beginning his professional career, said Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager.

“We want him to make it,” Bassin said.

David Broll (Contributed/Erie Otters)

In other news, the Otters have signed left wing David Broll, 16, and center Jeremy Gottzmann, 16 – their top two picks in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. Defenseman Brady Austin, 16, a second-round pick, and fifth-round goaltender Chris Festarini, 16, are close to signing, Bassin said. He has spoken at length with the agent of third-round center Jordan Coccimiglio, 16. Bassin also plans to speak with third-round left wing Michael Neville, 16.

Veteran defenseman Tyler Hostetter, 18, who has fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, will attend the Philadelphia Flyers’ main camp from Sept. 6-12, Bassin said.

Meanwhile, Bassin and assistant/goaltending coach Peter Sidorkiewicz are working on a two-year contract, Bassin said. “It will be done,” Bassin said. “We’ve agreed. We’ve just got to put it on paper.”

However, securing Russian-born goaltender Ramis Sadikov, 18, the club’s top pick in last month’s CHL Import Draft, has been more difficult, Bassin said. “We expected to have his release by now” from the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, he said. “We don’t have any reason to believe we have a problem. We just expected to have it by now because we applied for it right away.”

Other OHL clubs also are waiting for release documents for their European-born prospects, Bassin said.

“Let’s just say it’s not as easy as getting a player from Pittsburgh,” he said.

– Victor Fernandes