MINNESOTA WILD RECALLS FORWARD JUSTIN KIRKLAND FROM IOWA
Oct 13, 2026SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled forward Justin Kirkland from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) and placed forward Nico Sturm on Injured Reserve.
Kirkland, 29 (8/2/96), has tallied two points (0-2=2) and six shots on goal in four games with Iowa this season. He collected two points (1-1=2) in 20 games with the Calgary Flames and 22 points (11-11=22) in 42 games with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) last season. The 6-foot-3, 183-pound native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has tallied 10 points (3-7=10) and 13 penalty minutes (PIM) in 50 career NHL games in parts of four seasons with the Anaheim Ducks (2022-23), Arizona Coyotes (2023-24) and Calgary (2024-26). He made his NHL debut with Anaheim on Dec. 20, 2022, at Los Angeles. Kirkland has also recorded 224 points (86-138=224) and 321 PIM in 454 career games in 10 AHL seasons with Milwaukee (2016-19), Stockton (2019-22), San Diego (2022-23), Tucson (2023-24), Calgary (2025-26) and Iowa (2026-27). He owns 19 points (9-10=19) in 23 career Calder Cup Playoff games.
Kirkland tallied 169 points (71-98=169) and 140 PIM in 199 games in parts of five seasons (2011-16) with the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He helped Kelowna win the 2015 WHL Championship and advance to the Memorial Cup Final. Kirkland was originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the third round (No. 62 overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. He was signed by Minnesota as a free agent on July 1, 2026, and wears sweater No. 28 with the Wild.
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