ST. PAUL - Newly acquired forward Gustav Nyquist made his Wild season debut on Sunday against the Boston Bruins. 

Although he didn't record a point in the Wild's 1-0 win, Nyquist made a strong first impression to head coach John Hynes. 

"Good smart player, good hands, understands how to play. He’s been around, he’s been in this situation as well," Hynes said. "He’s been able to play for different coaches and different teams and come in and be an effective player so I’m excited. I think he brings a lot to our lineup, brings a lot, a high character guy.

"I think he’s really well liked. I talked to some people in Nashville and he was really well liked when he was here prior to coming back. But what he brings on the ice I think is really going to help our team."

Nyquist, 35, played on the Wild's first line with Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy. They didn't score but they sure did generate some chances. Boldy had eight shots and Nyquist had one.

“Obviously, two great players. Had some good looks out there. Unfortunately couldn’t get one. But I thought we played pretty well," Nyquist said. "Again, just nice to get a win here, first game back. Yeah, it was good.” 

According to Moneypuck, the first line led the team in on-ice expected goals for. Boldy led the team in xG and Nyquist was third behind Vinnie Hinostroza. 

"The poise, the puck pursuit, things like that, where he gets pucks in the neutral zone. You saw him. You saw him just wheel. He skates with it, right? He's really good," Wild alternate captain Marcus Foligno said on Nyquist. "He's good in tight areas and that's the thing, right? He can find guys late, hit some guys around, and he's smart. He's almost like a little bit of a Zuccy, and for the most part, it provides some more offensive spark."

It is safe to say that Wild players are happy to have Nyquist back on the team. Foligno is one of the guys who played with him the most in 2023 when Nyquist was first on the Wild. Sam Steel was the other, but Freddy Gaudreau also played a little with him. 

"Unreal. I was so happy. He's just such a smart player and unique player," Gaudreau said on Nyquist after Sunday's game. "You don't see guys like that often. He can just beat guys with his shoulder fakes and stuff, create space and sees the game better than anybody I know. Yeah, it's really fun, and more than that, he's such a great guy. So, I was happy when I saw that yesterday."

The Wild went a perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill in Sunday's game. Nyquist didn't get a chance to kill a penalty, but Hynes said after the game that he would eventually get a chance. They just didn't want to rush him into it after being acquired a day earlier and it being a day game.

"Oh yeah. He didn’t kill tonight, but coming in yesterday, he played in a completely different system," Hynes said. "Came in here, 2 o’clock game, three meetings, we had him on the power play, knew he was going to be playing some pretty big minutes playing with Rossi and Boldy, but he will for sure be on the penalty kill."

The Wild are hoping for a spark from Nyquist and a good first game proved it was a good decision to trade for him. Minnesota next plays on the road against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.