ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild are calling up reinforcements for Thursday night's road game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.
Minnesota called up rookie center Mikael Granlund Thursday from the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League. The Wild are without injured center Matt Cullen (lower-body) and the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Mike Russo tweeted that general manager Chuck Fletcher told him winger Dany Heatley is "out" for Thursday's game. Heatley was injured at the end of Wednesday's 4-2 loss at San Jose.
The Wild are hopeful Jason Pominville, who will join the team after he was acquired from Buffalo before Wednesday's trade deadline, will be ready to join the lineup after making the trip cross country to meet the team in Los Angeles.
Granlund, 21, had one goal and five assists in 19 games earlier this season with Minnesota, scoring his first goal in his NHL debut in the regular-season opener on Jan. 19. The Wild's first-round draft pick in 2010 and considered the team's top prospect and one of the best in the NHL, Granlund had 10 goals and 28 assists in 29 games for Houston this season.
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