Minnesota Wild Recall Veteran Forward Tyler Pitlick From Iowa Wild

Minnesota recalled veteran forward Tyler Pitlick from the Iowa Wild on Feb. 28, 2026, the club announced in a team release. “Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled forward Tyler Pitlick from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL),” the press release states, and Yardbarker adds that “it’s his third recall from Iowa while he has also cleared waivers three separate times.”

Pitlick, a 34-year-old Minneapolis native, has been a production force at the AHL level this season with Iowa. In 12 games he has 11 points, recorded as 8 goals and 3 assists, and has 31 shots on goal while serving as an alternate captain. IowaWild.com posted the club release noting his leadership role and scoring surge in the minors.

At the NHL level this season Pitlick has played 31 games for Minnesota, scoring 2 goals on 26 shots, compiling 24 penalty minutes and registering 76 hits that rank fourth on the Wild. Reports peg his average usage at just under eight minutes a night, and Yardbarker projects that “However, despite his offensive success at that level, he’s likely to remain in the limited fourth-line role if he gets into Minnesota’s lineup.”

The recall fills immediate forward depth after an injury scare to center Joel Eriksson Ek. Yardbarker reported the injury context: “With Joel Eriksson Ek sustaining an injury last night against Utah, the Wild have brought up some extra forward depth.” Yardbarker also relayed that “Eriksson Ek took a high stick near the eye on Friday. Michael Russo of The Athletic relays (Twitter link) that the center will be assessed today. While the current expectation is that he won’t play on Sunday versus St. Louis, the belief is that he’ll be okay and that this won’t be a long-term injury.” Minnesota had an open roster spot after sending David Spacek back to Iowa earlier in the week, so no corresponding move was required and the club now sits at the maximum 23 healthy players.

Pitlick’s résumé includes 451 career NHL games with 111 points listed in the release as “111 points (58-53=111) and 565 shots on goal in 451 career NHL games over 11 seasons,” and the PR notes his AHL totals as “140 points (60-89=149) in 289 career AHL games,” a parenthetical that appears inconsistent with the stated 140-point total. He was drafted 31st overall by Edmonton in 2010 and signed with Minnesota as a free agent on July 2, 2025, wearing No. 19.

This recall reinforces Pitlick’s role as veteran depth who can flip between the NHL and AHL; after three recalls and three waiver clearances this season his movement underscores how teams use experienced minor-league leaders for short-term NHL needs while preserving roster flexibility. If Eriksson Ek is unavailable Sunday versus St. Louis, Pitlick is the likeliest option to take a depth spot in the Wild lineup.