Minnesota Wild: Iowa Wild players in line for a call-up

2 of 4

CEDAR PARK, TX – OCTOBER 19: Iowa Wild center Luke Kunin awaits an opportunity during 5 – 4 loss to the Texas Stars on October 19, 2018, at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Luke Kunin

The Minnesota Wild and Luke Kunin had a very positive relationship last season, resulting in the first-round pick spending 19 games in the NHL and finishing with 4 points before an ACL tear ended his season early.

Kunin missed NHL training camp entirely this season, as medical would not clear his knee in time to participate. Since starting the season in Iowa, Kunin appears to have picked up as though he was never injured.

More from Analysis

He has supplied 3 goals and 7 points in 7 games for Iowa, and is a +2 in that time. With the injury to Staal, this should be the perfect opportunity for Kunin to be called up and play top line minutes.

If the Minnesota Wild want to know what they have in their former first-round pick, and give him a fair shake at playing Top 6 minutes, an injury to the 1st line center should be the opening that allows that to happen.

The Minnesota management and coaching team appear to be taking a conservative approach with Kunin’s injury recovery, but he is playing like that approach is overly cautious. He deserves a chance to regain his position in the NHL, and the Wild have the roster space to give him that chance.

Kunin spent most of last season in a 3rd line role, and played admirably in a position that required him to be more defensive and less of an offensive threat. Given a chance to perform alongside Jason Zucker and /or Mikael Granlund, Kunin should be able to perform at the level of his first round draft status

Home/Analysis