Wild Recall Nico Sturm While Haight Returns to AHL

The Minnesota Wild received a boost ahead of their road matchup with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as forward Nico Sturm returned after missing three games with a head injury. The team also reassigned prospect Hunter Haight to the Iowa Wild, while injuries continued to affect Minnesota's lineup.

According to MinnesotaSportsFan, Sturm was expected to play against Edmonton at 8 p.m. CT after being struck by a puck near his ear during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights on October 12. The Wild entered the matchup with a 6-2-1 record, while Edmonton stood at 6-1-1.

Sturm was cut by the puck through his helmet above the ear opening, received three stitches and underwent concussion protocol. He left the Vegas game after recording 3:20 of ice time across five shifts and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

During Tuesday's morning skate, Sturm described the incident as a "scary" moment. He said he would wear ear guards for the Edmonton game and likely continue using them permanently.

Through three games this season, Sturm had recorded no points and two shots while winning 88.2 percent of his faceoffs. He averaged 9:02 of ice time, and his 2025-26 campaign with Minnesota ended with five goals and six assists in 49 games.

Sturm practiced on the fourth line alongside Michael McCarron and Tyler Pitlick. According to The Athletic reporter Joe Smith, Pitlick was set to return to the lineup in place of Rieger Lorenz.

Defensemen Jared Spurgeon and Olli Maatta remained unavailable despite nearing a return. Wild coach John Hynes said both players were close, but neither was ready to play Tuesday. Spurgeon, who was placed on injured reserve Sunday retroactive to an earlier date, missed his fourth consecutive game.

According to MinnesotaSportsFan, Spurgeon and Maatta skated together during morning rushes but initially did not participate in penalty-kill drills. Maatta later joined those drills, indicating that his participation in practice had progressed.

Defenseman Brock Faber remained sidelined after surgery for a fractured skull sustained when a puck struck him near his left ear during the preseason. His injury and Sturm's subsequent incident have drawn attention to the protective role of hockey helmet ear guards.

In an October 20 report, InForum quoted Sanford Health sports medicine physician Dr. Drew Glogozza, who emphasized that ear guards cover an area otherwise vulnerable to direct puck impacts. Such injuries can cause fractures, cuts and damage to the ear.

Glogozza also warned that poorly fitted helmets can shift during contact or falls, leaving parts of the head exposed.

"I think a lot of times players are wearing helmets that are a little bit too loose, so then when they are hitting or falling, the helmets are falling off or sliding up on their face. So you want to make sure that that thing fits on there snug," Glogozza said.

He advised parents to check that children's helmets fit securely and retain all original protective components without modification.

Meanwhile, Minnesota reassigned Haight to Iowa after keeping the young forward with the NHL team as an extra forward. The move followed a strong preseason in which he remained among the final players cut from the main roster.

According to Yahoo Sports, Haight had three goals and five points through six AHL games, leading Iowa in goals and ranking second in total points. The 22-year-old prospect was selected 47th overall in the second round and was playing his third AHL season.

Haight recorded 20 goals and 34 points in 67 games during his rookie season. In his second campaign, he scored two fewer goals and recorded two fewer points despite playing 13 fewer games.

His early-season production placed him on a projected pace of 36 goals and 60 points over 71 games. He had also appeared in nine NHL games during the 2025-26 season, recording one goal and one assist.

Other injuries continued to limit Minnesota's options. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson remained on long-term injured reserve following offseason hip surgery, while Nick Foligno and Marcus Foligno were also on injured reserve. Kirill Kaprizov, who was injured by an illegal hit from goalie Joel Hofer during a game against the St. Louis Blues, returned to action against Columbus on Sunday.

With Sturm back in the lineup but Spurgeon, Maatta and Faber still unavailable, Minnesota continued managing a depleted roster while Haight resumed his development with Iowa.