The Minnesota Wild have hired former NHL star Bill Guerin as their fourth general manager in franchise history, the team announced Wednesday.

"I am thrilled to announce we have hired Bill Guerin, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, as general manager of the Minnesota Wild," team owner Craig Leipold said. "Bill has been a winner throughout his hockey career and I am extremely pleased to be able to add his experience to our organization and The State of Hockey."

Guerin, 48, could be introduced as soon as Thursday, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

He replaces Paul Fenton, who was fired July 30 after one campaign. The Wild missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012 under Fenton's watch.

Minnesota interviewed Guerin last season before ultimately hiring Fenton.

Leipold and president Matt Majka led the search and were assisted by Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Modano, who spent three seasons playing alongside Guerin with the Dallas Stars and the U.S. national team.

Guerin was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011 as a player development coach. He was promoted to assistant general manager in 2014 and captured back-to-back Stanley Cups with the club in 2016 and 2017.

During his playing career, Guerin tallied 429 goals and 856 points over 1,239 career games and captured two Stanley Cups. The Worcester, Mass., native was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

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