The Minnesota Wild will be without defenseman Daemon Hunt for their next spell of games, placing the blueliner on injured reserve and recalling defenseman David Špaček from the AHL’s Iowna Wild.
At 23 years old, Hunt has averaged 12:26 of ice time per game with the Wild through 12 NHL regular-season contests in 2025-26, posting two assists and 18 blocked shots in his third season with the organization.
Previously, the native of Moosomin, Saskatchewan, played 12 NHL games in 2023-24 and played a single contest in 2024-25, spending most of his professional hockey career in the AHL after a standout junior career with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL.
In total, the 65th overall pick in the third round of the NHL Draft has played 25 NHL games, posting three assists while still awaiting his first goal.
Taking his place on the NHL roster is the 22-year-old Špaček, who has 11 assists and 43 shots in 26 AHL games with Iowa in 2024-25. In total, he owns seven goals and 54 points in 159 games over three AHL seasons since his debut in 2023-24.
The Czech blueliner will be poised to make his NHL debut with the Wild, but has played top-level competition before, including playing eight games at the 2024 IIHF World Hockey Championship, helping his nation to a gold medal.
Minnesota’s 153rd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft confirmed that he will wear No. 82 with the Wild and will look to crack the lineup alongside new defensive acquisition Quinn Hughes, who has elevated Minnesota’s blueline qualities after last week’s blockbuster trade.
The Wild currently sit third in the NHL’s Central Division with 45 points over their first 35 games and visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Thursday night.
