Former Avalanche forward Nico Sturm was hospitalized Monday night after a puck struck him near the right ear during the Minnesota Wild’s 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at Grand Casino Arena.
The scene was jarring for Minnesota, which has already dealt with a serious head injury this season. Wild defenseman Brock Faber suffered a fractured skull after taking a shot to the head in a preseason game against the Dallas Stars on September 25, and Monday’s incident quickly stirred those memories back up.
Wild coach John Hynes said Sturm was being evaluated at a hospital but did not offer an update on his condition. He also said Sturm would not travel with the team to Winnipeg for Tuesday’s game against the Jets.
For Avalanche fans, Sturm is a familiar name from Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup run. He was part of that championship team after being acquired from the Wild ahead of the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for forward Tyson Jost.
Sturm, 31, had a brief stay in Denver, but it came at exactly the right time. He posted three points in 21 regular-season games with the Avalanche, then added two assists in 13 playoff games during the march to Colorado’s third Stanley Cup title. His role was a depth one, but he was still part of the group that finished the job.
This was Sturm’s second stint with Minnesota, and it left the Wild dealing with another unsettling head injury situation. For now, the focus is on his recovery while he remains on injured reserve.
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