NICO STURM NEWS

Delivers goal Wednesday Sturm scored a goal on two shots and added three hits in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks.

Impact This was Sturm's second game back after missing Minnesota's first 22 games due to a back injury. The 30-year-old's returned has helped fortify the Wild's bottom six. In addition to his goal, he's collected six hits and two blocked shots. Even when the team gets back to full health, Sturm should be able to maintain at least a fourth-line role thanks to his defensive play.

NOVEMBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Kaprizov scores in overtime as the Wild beat the Blackhawks 4-3 for their 6th straight win

Kirill Kaprizov scored a power-play goal 1:38 into overtime, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 for their sixth consecutive victory

NOVEMBER 27 • Associated Press

Activated off injured reserve Sturm (back) was activated off injured reserve Friday.

Impact Sturm missed the first month and a half of the 2025-26 campaign due to a back injury, but his season debut is imminent. Although he'll officially be available to suit up for Friday's game in Pittsburgh, a previous report from Michael Russo of The Athletic suggested that Sturm would practice Saturday before potentially returning to game action, so it seems as though the 30-year-old could spend at least one more matchup on the shelf. Sturm made 62 regular-season appearances between San Jose and Florida last year, recording seven goals, seven assists, 107 hits, 34 blocked shots and 20 PIM while averaging 10:25 of ice time. He'll likely handle a bottom-six role once he suits up for Minnesota.

NOVEMBER 21 • ROTOWIRE

Relatively close to suiting up Head coach John Hynes said Tuesday that Sturm (back) is "maybe a week or two away" from making his season debut, per Jessi Pierce of NHL.com.

Impact Sturm has yet to play in 2025-26 and is on injured reserve due to a long-term back injury. He is expected to return to the lineup before the end of November. Once he's able to suit up, he'll slot into a bottom-six role, which could see Ben Jones be a healthy scratch or relegated to the minors.

NOVEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Return of Mats Zuccarello a step toward making the Wild whole For the Wild, still without center Nico Sturm and blue liner Zach Bogosian, it’s always day to day. “It’s the guys that you have, not the gu...

NOVEMBER 12 • TWINCITIES.COM

Slated to miss 6-8 weeks Head coach John Hynes said Thursday that Sturm (back) is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Impact Sturm returned to the ice for Friday's preseason finale against Chicago after dealing with a back issue during training camp, but he apparently aggravated his injury, as he was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. Hynes said Wednesday that Sturm was expected to miss "significant time," and the team expects the 30-year-old to undergo back surgery that will sideline him for over a month. Hunter Haight will make his NHL debut during Thursday's Opening Night matchup against St. Louis and should have a chance to make an impact in Sturm's absence.

OCTOBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Vladimir Tarasenko has found a fresh start and a warm welcome with the Minnesota Wild

Vladimir Tarasenko has found a fresh start and a warm welcome with the Minnesota Wild

OCTOBER 8 • Associated Press

Injuries already taking a toll on Wild Already without Mats Zuccarello, the Wild have lost veteran center Nico Sturm for ‘significant time’ ahead of Thursday’s opener.

OCTOBER 8 • TWINCITIES.COM

Expected to miss significant time Head coach John Hynes said Wednesday that he expects Sturm (back) to miss significant time, Sarah McLellan of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Impact Sturm missed most of training camp due to a back injury but was able to suit up in Friday's preseason finale against Chicago. However, he landed on injured reserve to begin the regular season and is apparently facing a lengthy early-season absence. It's not yet clear when he'll be in the mix to return to action, but he'll likely take on a bottom-six role once he's healthy.

OCTOBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to IR Sturm (back) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, per Michael Russo of The Athletic.

Impact In a corresponding move, Minnesota recalled Hunter Haight. Sturm had been dealing with a back issue during training camp, but he returned to the lineup in Friday's preseason finale. If he aggravated the injury during Monday's practice, he will miss at least the first three games of the 2025-26 campaign. Once healthy, he will be in the mix for a fourth-line role.

OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

Returns Friday Sturm (back) will participate in Friday's preseason game against Chicago, per the NHL media site.

Impact It'll be Sturm's first exhibition game of training camp due to the back injury. The 30-year-old recorded seven goals, 14 points, 20 PIM and 107 hits in 62 regular-season appearances between San Jose and Florida in 2024-25. Sturm will probably make Minnesota's Opening Night roster, but he might spend some of the campaign as a healthy scratch.

OCTOBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Practices Tuesday Sturm (back) participated in Tuesday's practice, but he will be kept off the ice for a few days to rest, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports

Impact Sturm hasn't suffered a setback in his recovery, and the Wild will be cautious with him before Opening Night. As a result, he won't play in Tuesday's exhibition matchup against Winnipeg and will likely miss Friday's preseason finale versus Chicago. Still, it remains unclear if he will play in St. Louis on Oct. 9 when the regular season begins.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Wild training camp observations: First round of roster cuts start bringing clarity for season Injuries to Mats Zuccarello, Jonas Brodin and Nico Sturm will play a role in the final decisions moving forward.

SEPTEMBER 29 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Won't play Thursday Sturm (back) has been ruled out for Thursday's preseason game against the Stars, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Impact Sturm has been dealing with a back injury for the past week, and he missed the Wild's first two preseason games as a result. He'll be unavailable for a third consecutive matchup Thursday, while his next chance to suit up will be Sunday against Chicago.

SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

In second stint with the Wild, Nico Sturm knows what he's here to do After honing his skills as a defensive specialist with other teams, center Nico Sturm is back in Minnesota, ready to help the penalty kill.

SEPTEMBER 24 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Ruled out Tuesday Sturm (back) will not play versus the Stars on Tuesday.

Impact Sturm played in just 62 games for the Panthers and Sharks last season, so any injury will certainly be a concern for the 30-year-old center. As of now, there shouldn't be too many concerns that the German won't be ready in time for Opening Night, though his role as a fourth-line center likely doesn't have him on most fantasy radars.

SEPTEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with back injury Sturm left Thursday's scrimmage due to a back injury, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Impact Sturm was able to practice but couldn't get through the Wild's first scrimmage. He can be considered day-to-day for now. The 30-year-old is in contention for a bottom-six job going into 2025-26.

SEPTEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Wild bring back Nico Sturm in quiet free agency opener Generally speaking, it was a day of what can be termed “strategic patience” for Wild general manager Bill Guerin.

JULY 1 • TWINCITIES.COM

Returning to State of Hockey Sturm agreed to terms on a two-year, $4 million contract with Minnesota on Tuesday.

Impact Sturm rejoins the Wild following his trade to Colorado back in March of 2022. Since his previous stint with the club, the 30-year-old German has won a pair of Stanley Cups, including this past season with the Panthers. Sturm will give the team some much-needed depth, likely in a bottom-six role.

JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Canucks re-sign Boeser, Rangers land Gavrikov and trade Miller to Carolina to open NHL free agency

Brock Boeser stayed put in Vancouver

JULY 1 • Associated Press

Skinner or Pickard? Oilers' Knoblauch still not naming starting goalie for Stanley Cup Final Game 6

It's anyone's guess who starts in goal for the Edmonton Oilers when they face elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night

JUNE 16 • Associated Press

US hockey announces initial 6 players for 2026 Milan Olympics

The U.S. named Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy as its first six players for the 2026 Olympics

JUNE 16 • Associated Press

Settle in and get ready: An 'ultracompetitive' 2nd round of the NHL playoffs is here

The Dallas Stars emerged from a seven-game series against Colorado, and the Edmonton Oilers rallied from down 2-0 to eliminate Los Angeles and move on in the NHL playoffs

MAY 4 • Associated Press

Morning Skate: Sturm - 4/24/25 | Florida Panthers Nico Sturm speaks ahead of Game 2 against Tampa Bay.

APRIL 24 • NHL.COM

Morning Skate: Sturm - 4/14/25 | Florida Panthers Nico Sturm speaks ahead of Monday's game against the New York Rangers.

APRIL 14 • NHL.COM