The Minnesota Wild are heading into a tough stretch, and they’re doing it shorthanded.
Ahead of a challenging road trip, the Wild have recalled forwards Hunter Haight and Nicolas Aube-Kubel from AHL affiliate Iowa, bolstering a lineup that’s been hit hard by injuries. Minnesota opens the trip against a red-hot Buffalo Sabres team that’s gone 15-2-0 over its last 17 games - a tall order even with a full roster. After that, it’s a back-to-back set in Toronto and Montreal before the team returns home.
The injury report is stacking up fast. Matt Boldy, one of the Wild’s most dynamic offensive weapons, has been placed on Injured Reserve and will miss at least the next four games.
He joins defenseman Jonas Brodin, center Joel Eriksson Ek, and veteran blueliner Zach Bogosian on the IR. None of the four will travel with the team.
To help manage the roster shuffle, defenseman David Jiricek has been called up, while Carson Lambos has been sent back down to Iowa.
Up front, the Wild are banking on a mix of youth and experience to help weather the storm. Hunter Haight, just 21 years old, returns to the NHL after starting the season with the big club.
He’s appeared in two NHL games this year and has been a steady presence in Iowa, notching seven goals and 12 points in 26 games. Haight brings energy and upside, and this stretch could be a valuable proving ground for the young forward.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel, meanwhile, offers a more seasoned presence. The 29-year-old winger has suited up for four games with Minnesota this season, logging one assist and four hits in just under 49 minutes of ice time. He’s been productive in Iowa, tallying seven goals and 17 points in 31 games, and his physical style and championship pedigree (he won a Stanley Cup with Colorado) could help stabilize the Wild’s bottom six during this injury crunch.
Minnesota is in a tough spot - there’s no sugarcoating it. Missing key contributors like Boldy, Brodin, Eriksson Ek, and Bogosian all at once is a major blow.
But this is also a chance for depth players to step up and for younger talent like Haight to get a real NHL look. With a brutal schedule ahead, the Wild will need every ounce of resilience they’ve got.