NHL Free Agency is now open and the Minnesota Wild have around $13 million in available cap space to spend. They will sign a few guys but today we will look at one potential target in Nico Sturm.
Sturm, 30, spent the first four years of his NHL career with the Wild after being undrafted. He recorded 20 goals, 16 assists, 36 points, and 118 hits in 111 games with the Wild.
After four years, the Wild traded him during the 2021-22 season to the Colorado Avalanche for Tyson Jost. Sturm won the Stanley Cup that season. He was traded by the San Jose Sharks to the Florida Panthers at the deadline last season and won the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career, this season with the Panthers.
The 6-foot-3 center had seven goals, seven assists, 14 points and 107 hits in 62 games during the 2024-25 season. He has a career 56.6 percent face-off percentage in 331 career NHL games.
The native of Augsburg, Germany would be a perfect fit with the Wild. He can win face-offs and kill penalties. Plus, the Wild are in need of a fourth line center and Sturm could be a perfect option. He still spends his summers in Minnesota despite not playing here for the last four years.
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