Wild recall Ben Jones as Zach Bogosian placed on injured reserve

Minnesota made a roster change that matters to players, fantasy managers and fans tracking lineup depth: President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin recalled forward Ben Jones from the AHL’s Iowa Wild and placed defenseman Zach Bogosian on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

The recall brings a familiar, physical option back to the NHL bench. Jones, 26, skated in 20 games for Minnesota this season and ranks seventh on the team with 47 hits. He also carried momentum from Iowa, where he posted five points (3-2=5) including two power-play goals in eight games. The 6-foot, 190-pound native of Waterloo, Ont., wears sweater No. 39 and was a seventh-round pick (No. 189 overall) by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Jones’ NHL resume includes 48 career games across parts of three seasons with Vegas (2021-22) and Minnesota (2024-26), during which he registered 42 shots on goal and 102 hits. His AHL production is substantial: notes list 202 points (88-114=199) and 284 penalty minutes in 340 career games with Chicago, Henderson, Calgary and Iowa, plus four points (2-2=4) and 22 penalty minutes in 22 Calder Cup Playoff games. That combination of scoring touch at the AHL level and a physical NHL game explains why the Wild turned to Jones to fill available forward minutes.

Bogosian’s placement on injured reserve creates the vacancy that prompted the recall. The team listed his issue as a lower-body injury; placement on IR traditionally opens roster spots and forces adjustments to the defensive rotation and penalty-killing group. That affects game-to-game matchups and short-term special teams deployment, especially against opponents who test Minnesota’s depth.

For local fans and fantasy hockey players, the practical takeaway is immediate: Jones’ return increases the team’s forechecking and hit totals and makes him a candidate for increased NHL minutes. Keep an eye on the Wild’s line combinations and the club’s active roster announcements for who slides into Bogosian’s minutes on the back end. The move also signals that Minnesota is leaning on players who bring physicality and penalty-killing experience as it navigates injuries.

The takeaway? Jones is the kind of texture player who can change the physical tone and chip in on special teams; monitor lineups and waiver wires, and expect the Wild to rotate to cover Bogosian’s absence. Our two cents? If you like grit and tenacity on the forecheck, this recall is worth watching.