The Minnesota Wild have recalled forward Ben Jones from the AHL’s Iowa Wild. He played one game with Iowa this weekend, after clearing waivers and getting sent down on Friday. That assignment ended Jones’ two-month stint on the NHL lineup, a move that Minnesota will now reverse.
Jones was awarded Iowa Wild’s captaincy but earned an NHL call-up after scoring two points in the first two games of the season. He has appeared in 20 NHL games since and posted no scoring, five shot blocks, and 47 hits. He’s thrown the fourth-most hits on the Wild on a per-game basis. That physical presence has been his biggest impact while operating from Minnesota’s fourth line. Jones didn’t manage any scoring in 28 NHL games prior to this season.
Jones will offer with behind Vinnie Hinostroza on Minnesota’s bottom line. Hinostroza has five points and 20 hits in 23 games this season. The balance between a checking forward in Jones and a utility wing in Hinostroza will fill out Minnesota’s depth with five games left on the schedule before 2025 ends. The Wild, now under the lead of superstar defender Quinn Hughes, have won their last six games by a combined score of 58-to-30. Minnesota is now 14-2-1 in their last 17 games.
I haven’t paid much attention to the Wild lately, but according to the stats listed above, they have been scoring 9.75 goals while giving up 5 goals a game for the last six they’ve played.