The Minnesota Wild are turning to Tyler Pitlick after Nick Foligno left last night’s game with an upper-body injury and is set to miss tomorrow’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Minnesota announced the recall from the AHL’s Iowa Wild, giving the club another veteran forward option while it waits for more clarity on Foligno’s recovery. The team has not offered a firm timeline for Foligno, who was injured in last night’s contest.
Foligno skated just 3:29 in Minnesota’s loss to the Buffalo Sabres and did not come back for the second period. The 20-year veteran has one goal in three games this season while working on the Wild’s fourth line.
Pitlick, 34, is in his second season with Minnesota. He signed a two-year, $1.63MM deal carrying an $812.5K annual average value before the 2025-26 campaign, after spending the 2024-25 season with the AHL’s Providence Bruins.
This time around, Pitlick has already made it back to the NHL with the Wild after his stint in Boston’s system. Used in a bottom-six role, he finished the 2025-26 season with two goals in 32 games, a minus-4 rating, and 7:46 of ice time per night. He also piled up 78 hits and posted a 92.7% on-ice SV% at even strength.
At Iowa, Pitlick’s offense came much easier. He was one of the few bright spots for a club that has reached the postseason only twice since relocating to Des Moines ahead of the 2013-14 season, finishing with 10 goals and 15 points in 20 games despite a minus-6 rating.
In Other News...
Wild Let A 2-0 Lead Slip In A Brutal Road Loss
The Wild had the game where they wanted it for most of the night in Buffalo, carrying a two-goal lead into the stretch before the Sabres started to chip away. Minnesota could not close it out, and what looked like a solid road win instead turned into a frustrating defeat after Buffalos late push kept the pressure on until the end.
Buffalo finished the rally with third-period goals from Tage Thompson and Noah Ostlund to force overtime, while Colten Ellis held his own with 18 saves in his season debut. For a Minnesota team that had already done enough early to feel in control, the loss leaves the familiar sour aftertaste of letting a lead get away, especially with the Sabres finding just enough offense to turn the night around. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Win Came With A Wild Injury Scare Fans Will Notice
Nick Folignos night ended early against the Sabres, adding an unwelcome injury note to a game Minnesota was already trying to manage. The veteran forward left with an upper-body injury and had already seen limited ice time before he was forced out, a reminder of how quickly a hard-working depth piece can become a concern for a team that leans on experience in the lineup.
Foligno, who scored the Wilds season-opening goal earlier in the year, has been part of the group since arriving last season and returning on a one-year deal. For Minnesota, any absence would be worth monitoring not just because of what he brings on the ice, but because he has fit as one of those dependable role players who can steady a lineup when things get choppy. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Forward Depth Already Being Tested Again On Early Road Trip
The Wild have opened the 2026-27 season in solid shape at 2-0-1, but the early road trip is already putting their depth to the test. With Brock Faber still sidelined indefinitely after surgery for a fractured skull, Minnesota has had to keep adjusting its blue line mix while trying to maintain momentum, and the next stop is Tampa Bay.
The forward group has taken its own hit with Nick Foligno leaving the Buffalo game with an upper-body injury and landing on the day-to-day list. To help steady the roster, the Wild brought up Tyler Pitlick from the Iowa Wild, giving the bench a little more flexibility at a time when every healthy body matters. [Read more 🡒]