The Minnesota Wild claimed forward Vinnie Hinostroza off waivers from the Nashville Predators Wednesday before he could be reassigned to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.
Hinostroza began the season in Milwaukee, where he led the AHL in scoring with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) by the time Nashville recalled him at the end of December. He has since appeared in 13 games for the Predators, recording a pair of assists and averaging 11:32 of ice time per game during that span.
Hinostroza will now have a chance to compete in a playoff chase as he joins a Minnesota roster that has been ravaged by injuries to several star players, as well as a 10-game suspension for former Predators forward Ryan Hartman. The Wild (31-19-4) currently sit at third place in the Central Division with 66 points.
The Predators’ active roster is now at 22 players: 13 forwards, seven defensemen (not including Jeremy Lauzon, who is on injured reserve) and two goaltenders. Forwards Luke Evangelista (day-to-day, lower-body) and Mark Jankowski (week-to-week, upper-body) are injured, so the team’s decision to waive Hinostroza may be an indication that one or both are close to returning before Nashville’s next game Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Predators might also be inclined to call up one of their young forward prospects from Milwaukee to make his NHL debut. Joakim Kemell stands out as the obvious choice, as general manager Barry Trotz has previously mentioned him as a prospect who could see playing time in Nashville this season.
Kemell, the Predators’ first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft (No. 17 overall) recently represented the Admirals at the AHL All-Star Classic – ironically, as a replacement for Hinostroza, who was in Nashville at the time. He has 25 points (9 goals, 16 assists) in 38 games with Milwaukee this year.
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