Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Minnesota Wild News

Hunt has been recalled from Iowa (AHL).

Hunt being recalled likely indicates that Jared Spurgeon (lower body) will not be ready to return to Minnesota's lineup on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 22-year-old Hunt has played one game with Minnesota this season, tallying 8:01 time-on-ice and two shots on goal.

Daemon Hunt
Eriksson Ek (broken nose) is expected to return on Saturday in Columbus.

Originally expected to return on Tuesday, Eriksson Ek is likely to make his return on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Eriksson Ek did not travel with Minnesota for the start of their seven-game road trip after he took an elbow to the face from Adam Larsson in the second period and went to the locker room in last Saturday's game. He missed the final 12:45 of the period before returning to the game in the third period with a full face shield. He only played one shift, though, left the game again and did not return.

Joel Eriksson Ek
Hunt has been reassigned to Iowa (AHL).

Hunt's reassignment to the Iowa Wild (AHL) is likely a paper transaction unless Jared Spurgeon (lower body) is deemed ready to return to the lineup. The 22-year-old Hunt has played one game with Minnesota this season, tallying 8:01 time-on-ice and two shots on goal.

Daemon Hunt
Hunt will make his season debut on Tuesday in St. Louis.

Hunt was the 65th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut last season, playing 12 games, but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, tallying 29 points (3G / 26A) in 51 games for the Iowa Wild.

Daemon Hunt
Gustavsson will start on Tuesday in St.Louis.

Gustavsson has been strong for Minnesota, starting two of three games to start the season, and will return to the crease on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 26-year-old Gustavsson has saved 64 of 68 shots (.941 SV%) through two games (1-0-1), an early indication that he may be returning to form after a forgettable 2023-24 campaign when he posted a 3.06 GAA and .899 SV% in 45 outings (20-18-4). Minnesota enters the action as slight -111 road favorites against St. Louis.

Filip Gustavsson
Eriksson Ek (broken nose) will remain out on Tuesday in St. Louis.

Originally expected to return on Tuesday, Eriksson Ek will remain out of the lineup for at least one more game. Eriksson Ek did not travel with Minnesota for the start of their seven-game road trip after he took an elbow to the face from Adam Larsson in the second period and went to the locker room in Saturday's game. He missed the final 12:45 of the period before returning to the game in the third period with a full face shield. He only played one shift, though, and left the game again and did not return.

Joel Eriksson Ek
Gustavsson will start on Sunday in Winnipeg.

Gustavsson won his first start of the season vs. Columbus after stopping 31 of 33 shots against (.939 SV%) and will have a chance to go 2-0-0 on Sunday in Winnipeg. The 26-year-old is in his third season with the Wild and will be splitting time with both Marc-Andre Fleury and Jesper Wallstedt this season. He will head to Winnipeg to take on the undefeated Jets (2-0-0), who beat Chicago 2-1 on home ice on Friday.

Filip Gustavsson
Spurgeon (lower-body) is out after not travelling to Winnipeg on Sunday.

After missing 66 games in 2023-24 due to injury, Jared Spurgeon will unfortunately miss game three of the season with a lower-body injury on Sunday. The 34-year-old will be replaced by Declan Chisholm (illness) in the lineup. Minnesota is expected to provide further updates on the injury later.

Jared Spurgeon
Eriksson Ek (upper-body) did not travel with Minnesota for the start of their 7-game road trip.

Eriksson Ek did not travel with Minnesota for the start of their seven-game road trip after he took an elbow to the face from Adam Larsson in the second period and went to the locker room in Saturday's game. He missed the final 12:45 of the period before returning to the game in the third period with a full face shield. He only played one shift, though, and left the game again and did not return. Minnesota is expected to provide further updates on their star centre in the upcoming days.

Joel Eriksson Ek
Eriksson Ek suffered an upper-body injury on Saturday and is not expected to play Sunday in Winnipeg.

Eriksson Ek took an elbow to the face from Adam Larsson in the second period and went to the locker room. He missed the final 12:45 of the period before returning to the game in the third period with a full face shield. He only played one shift, though, and left the game again and did not return. Eriksson Ek reportedly didn't travel to Winnipeg for Sunday's game, the start of a lengthy seven-game road trip for the Wild.

Joel Eriksson Ek
Petry (upper-body) is out on Saturday and considered day-to-day.

Petry suffered an upper-body injury at some point during the Red Wings' 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, playing only 9:34 time-on-ice. The Red Wings have recalled Justin Holl from the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) to draw into the lineup as Holl's replacement.

Jeff Petry
Wallstedt has been recalled from Iowa (AHL).

Wallstedt was sent down to the Iowa Wild (AHL) on Thursday for salary cap implications but is expected to fight for playing time in Minnesota this season. Wallstedt was the 20th overall pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in Iowa (AHL), posting a solid 2.70 GAA and .910 SV% in 45 games (22-19-4).

Jesper Wallstedt