The Minnesota Wild have recalled hunter haight and defenseman Matt Kiersted from the Iowa Wild, a roster move announced on Sunday in Saint Paul. The call-up comes as Minnesota prepares for its game at the St. Louis Blues on Monday, April 13, at 7 p. m. CT. Bill Guerin, the Wild president of hockey operations and general manager, made the move as the club heads into its final regular-season stretch.
Hunter Haight returns after productive AHL season
For hunter haight, the recall adds another NHL opportunity after he made his debut Oct. 9 at St. Louis and has one assist in seven games with Minnesota this season. He also picked up his first career NHL point with an assist against Chicago on March 19. In Iowa, hunter haight has been one of the more productive skaters on the roster, finishing with 32 points, including 18 goals, six power-play goals and 108 shots on goal in 51 games this season.
The 22-year-old forward, who was selected by Minnesota in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, has played 118 games over two seasons with Iowa and has 66 points in that span. He also represented Iowa at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic, a sign of how much he has stood out at the minor-league level. The move gives the Wild another look at hunter haight after a season in which he has produced both in the AHL and in limited NHL action.
Matt Kiersted also joins the roster
Kiersted arrives with a different profile but similar value for a team managing its depth late in the season. He has one assist in four games with Minnesota this season and has logged 12 points in 49 games for Iowa, along with 115 shots on goal and 38 penalty minutes. The 27-year-old from Elk River, Minnesota, has also built a sizeable body of work in the NHL and AHL over several seasons, giving the Wild a defenseman with experience at multiple levels.
In his career, Kiersted has played 43 NHL games across five seasons with Florida and Minnesota and has appeared in 282 AHL games with Charlotte and Iowa. His numbers at the AHL level include 97 points and a plus-59 rating, along with 12 Calder Cup Playoff points in 30 games. Minnesota signed him as a free agent on July 2, 2025, and he wears sweater No. 26 with the club.
What the move means for Minnesota
The timing of the transaction matters because Minnesota is down to its last games of the regular season and is working with a roster that has shifted repeatedly this week. The Wild’s next stop is St. Louis, and this recall gives the team two more options as it closes out the schedule. With hunter haight back in the mix and Kiersted added on defense, Minnesota is leaning on players who have already logged time with both the NHL club and Iowa.
hunter haight remains a key name to watch because his season has shown steady production in Iowa and glimpses of scoring touch in Minnesota. The Wild will now see whether that form carries into the final stage of the year as the team lines up for Monday night in St. Louis.
