dailyloe.com – The Minnesota Wild announced a roster move on April 12, 2026. President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin confirmed the recall. Forward Hunter Haight and defenseman Matt Kiersted are joining from the Iowa Wild. They are being promoted from the American Hockey League affiliate.
Hunter Haight is a 22-year-old forward from Strathroy, Ontario. He made his NHL debut on October 9 against the St. Louis Blues. Haight has one assist in seven games with Minnesota this season. He recorded his first NHL point with an assist versus Chicago on March 19.
Haight stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 187 pounds. He has played 51 games for Iowa in the AHL this season. There he collected 32 points from 18 goals and 14 assists. He also scored six power-play goals and registered 108 shots on goal.
His performance ranks second on Iowa in goals and power-play goals. Haight is fifth on the team in overall scoring this season. He also represented the Iowa Wild at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic. This marks a significant achievement in his professional development.
In his debut AHL campaign last season, Haight recorded 34 points. He scored 20 goals and added 14 assists across 67 games. He ranked second on the Iowa team in shots on goal with 154. He was also second in goals and power-play goals with six.
Haight finished sixth on the team in total points last season. Among all AHL rookies, he ranked tied for eighth in goals scored. Over two seasons with Iowa from 2024 to 2026, he has 118 games played. He owns 66 total points from 38 goals and 28 assists in that span.
He has also accumulated 48 penalty minutes during his AHL tenure. The Minnesota Wild originally selected Haight in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was chosen in the second round with the 47th overall pick. Haight wears sweater number 37 for the Wild.
Defenseman Matt Kiersted, 27, was also recalled from Iowa. He is a native of Elk River, Minnesota. Kiersted has tallied one assist in four games with Minnesota this season. He has appeared in the NHL over parts of five seasons.
Kiersted stands 6 feet tall and weighs 181 pounds. In 49 games with Iowa this AHL season, he recorded 12 points. He scored four goals and added eight assists for the team. He also registered 115 shots on goal and 38 penalty minutes.
He ranks tied for first on the Iowa team in shots on goal this season. Kiersted is also tied for second on the team with a plus-2 rating. His professional career includes time with the Florida Panthers from 2020 to 2025. He joined the Minnesota Wild organization in 2025.
Kiersted has played 43 career NHL games across his five seasons. He has tallied eight points from two goals and six assists at the top level. He signed with Minnesota as a free agent on July 2, 2025. He wears sweater number 26 for the Wild.
In his AHL career, Kiersted has played 282 games for Charlotte and Iowa. He has notched 97 points from 20 goals and 77 assists at that level. He also has 486 shots on goal, 239 penalty minutes, and a plus-59 rating. He has appeared in 30 Calder Cup Playoff games, posting 12 points.
The Minnesota Wild’s next game is scheduled for Monday, April 13. They will play on the road against the St. Louis Blues. The game starts at 7 p.m. Central Time. It will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network and KFAN FM 100.3.[]
Source: NHL.com
