Wild Activate Jacob Middleton, Assign Three

The Minnesota Wild snuck one more transaction in before today’s roster deadline, activating defenseman Jacob Middleton off of long-term injured reserve just a few minutes before their freeze per Michael Russo of The Athletic. Middleton will return to the lineup in tonight’s matchup against St. Louis. In a corresponding move, the Wild have also reversed their roster call-ups from yesterday – assigning forwards Travis Boyd and Brendan Gaunce, and defenseman Carson Lambos, to the minor leagues.

Middleton has been out of the lineup since December 12th, when he sustained a hand injury in a match against the Edmonton Oilers. He was placed on long-term injured reserve one day later. His injury forced him out of Minnesota’s last 11 games. It was a noticeable absence for the Wild, who are also bearing with injuries to team captain Jared Spurgeon and superstar Kirill Kaprizov. Middleton has continued to serve as a big body on the Wild’s second pair. He scored five goals and 13 points in Minnesota’s first 29 games, putting him on pace to blow his career-high of 25 points out of the water. He’s also posted a +22 and 15 penalty minutes – both career-bests for the physical defenders.

Middleton is making good use of the final year of his three-year contract with the Wild. He’s surpassed 20 minutes of average ice time for the first time in his seven-year NHL career this season, and served as a crucial lineup piece as top defenders Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin recovered from injuries of their own. Middleton should benefit from Spurgeon’s absence once again upon returning, likely to challenge Brodin for the role of top left-defender next to Brock Faber.

The AHL’s Iowa Wild will get back three routine lineup pieces with this move, and they could stick with Minnesota finally getting injured players back. Boyd and Gaunce lead Iowa in scoring with 20 and 17 points in 22 games respectively. Lambos hasn’t found the same production, with just five points in 27 games, but should get a chance to earn a routine lineup role once more with Middleton back.