Sep 21, 2024; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) and Minnesota Wild center Travis Boyd (72) celebrate their victory over the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Wild Reassign Travis Boyd and Jesper Wallstedt

The Minnesota Wild make roster adjustments, reassigning Travis Boyd and Jesper Wallstedt to their AHL affiliate.

The Minnesota Wild have reassigned forward Travis Boyd and goalkeeper Jesper Wallstedt to their AHL affiliate, Iowa, as confirmed by the team’s public relations staff. This move opens up two spots on the active roster, leaving the team with no extra forwards for tomorrow’s game against the Blackhawks. This suggests that one of the forwards on injured reserve, either Joel Eriksson Ek or Yakov Trenin, could be ready to return to the lineup.

Boyd, 31, was recalled last Friday for the Wild’s back-to-back games against Utah and the Jets. This marks his fourth call-up of the season after clearing training camp. None of his recalls have lasted more than a few days, with his longest stint being nine days in late November. Boyd has avoided waivers as his time on the active roster hasn’t been long enough to require it.

The #mnwild has reassigned forward Travis Boyd and goaltender Jesper Wallstedt to the @IAWild.
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) December 22, 2024

The Minnesota native was scratched for Friday’s loss to Utah but played in the 5-0 loss to Winnipeg the following night, logging 8:08 of ice time and recording a blocked shot. This was his third NHL appearance of the season and his first since November 27. Boyd has averaged just 7:48 per game in ice time this season, without a shot on goal, and has primarily played in a defensive role, starting 88.9% of his even-strength shifts in the defensive zone. This has led to poor possession numbers, though it’s a small sample size.

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Boyd, known for being a depth scorer, has not posted favorable possession metrics in his career, but he is a reliable player when used in the right role. With healthier forwards ahead of him on the depth chart, he will return to Iowa, where he has been impressive, leading the team in scoring with 18 points in 17 games.

As for Wallstedt, his demotion likely indicates that Filip Gustavsson is ready to return to action after missing the last four games due to a lower-body injury. Gustavsson has been considered day-to-day and never landed on IR. Wallstedt, the Wild’s top goaltending prospect, struggled in his second NHL start of the season, allowing five goals on 24 shots against the Jets. He has had a rough year, with a .843 save percentage in his two NHL games and a subpar .874 save percentage in 12 AHL appearances.

Wallstedt’s regression comes after two strong seasons in the AHL, where he was an All-Star. This performance led the Wild to sign him to a two-year, $4.4 million extension in October. For now, the Wild are happy to have Gustavsson back, as he has returned to his excellent 2022-23 form with a .922 save percentage, 2.24 goals-against average, and two shutouts in 22 starts.

Image Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

Jesper Wallstedt

Minnesota Wild

NHL

Travis Boyd

Anamika Shrivastava

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