Luke Kunin is getting another chance to make an impression with the Wild as Mikko Koivu’s injury replacement.
Kunin got the call up from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League on Sunday, the same day the Wild announced that Koivu is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
The fact that Koivu’s injury isn’t more serious is the best news. He was injured in last Thursday’s loss in Calgary when Flames captain Mark Giordano appeared to stick out his leg and make contact with Koivu along the boards.
Koivu went down before limping to the locker room and did not return, nor did he play in Friday’s blowout loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Kunin was Minnesota’s first-round pick (15th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old former Wisconsin Badger has 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 21 games with Iowa this season.
The star prospect’s rookie season was cut short in 2017-18 when he tore the ACL in his left knee on March 4, 2018 against Detroit.
Minnesota has lost five of its last six games and is now 15-12-2 on the season. They return from a three-day layoff on Tuesday at home against Montreal.
