Recently acquired forward Vinnie Hinostroza is set to make his Wild debut tonight.
ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Wild (31-19-4) is back in action tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes (32-18-4) for a 6:30 start. They will welcome a new player to the team tonight.
Vinnie Hinostroza was claimed off waivers from the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. He joined the team on Thursday for morning skate and will make his Wild debut tonight.
"Yeah, it was a quick turnaround, but I’m really happy to be here," Hinostroza said. "Everything was set up so nicely getting here yesterday and then coming in and coming to the rink, meeting the guys, the coaching staff, and everyone. This is a great place it seems. And I’m happy to be here."
The Wild needed a forward with the loss of Ryan Hartman to a 10-game suspension and Jakub Lauko hitting the injured reserve.
Funny enough, Hinostroza was part of Hartman's wedding over the summer so he got to met a bunch of the Wild which has made this process easier.
"Yeah I think Hartzy texted me before I officially found out," Hinostroza said. "He must have saw Elliotte Friedman’s tweet or something. I think that’s how a lot of people find out. But yeah, it’s always easy, I was in his wedding party last summer and got see all these guys, meet all these guys, so coming in with some famillar faces helped and it’s great to have him."
The Wild will play Hinostroza in his team debut on the third line with Freddy Gaudreau and Marcus Foligno. One of his biggest assets is his speed and what he can create with that. Which is his focus tonight.
"Yeah, I think I’m getting older now but I still skate pretty well," Hinostroza said in his role. "So I think energy, speed, get on the forecheck and try to create a bit."
Hinostroza, 30, has spent the entire 2024-25 season in the Predators' organization. He has two assists in 13 NHL games this ear and has recorded 11 goals and 33 points in 26 AHL games with Milwaukee.
The Wild have been shutout in their last two games and will look to beat a hard Hurricanes team. They will look to do just that with Hinostroza making his team debut.
"I think over my 10-year career, started in Chicago so we played here a lot and they’re pretty intense games. Anytime you come here you know it’s going to be loud, and if Minnesota gets on the board first, you know the crows is gonna keep the momentum going so it’s gonna feel really cool to be on the other side of that."
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