Wild Place Nico Sturm On Injured Reserve Following Head Injury, Recall Justin Kirkland

The morning after Nico Sturm's scary head injury, the Minnesota Wild announced a roster move. Sturm has been placed on the injured reserve.

In addition to the move, the Wild recalled forward Justin Kirkland from the Iowa Wild to replace Sturm on the roster. Minnesota already has Tyler Pitlick up so now John Hynes can decide between the two for who plays.

Kirikland, 29, has recorded two assists in four AHL games with Iowa this season. He recorded one goal and one assist in 20 NHL games with the Calgary Flames last year.

Sturm, 31, was hit in the head in Monday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights by a puck. It hit around the same spot that left Brock Faber with a skull fracture and a timeline that is indefinite.

“Very, very scary,” goalie Jesper Wallstedt said after Monday's game. “Obviously, we’ve seen what it could do. We don’t know what the situation is like, if it’s the same or worse or not as bad. Obviously, I wish Nico is doing good and doing well, and it’s not that bad. But very, very scary, and obviously you get flashbacks to the preseason game when that happened to Brock. Hopefully, it’s not like that, but obviously very hard to see.”

Sturm was taken to a local hospital by ambulance and per a source, he was stable sitting in the back drinking water. Michael McCarron also stated he was able to see Sturm during intermission and said he was looking okay.

Hynes didn't have an update after the game but said Sturm obviously wouldn’t be on the team’s plane to Winnipeg for tonight's Tuesday night game.

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