Wild recall David Špaček from Iowa to bolster defensive depth

The Minnesota Wild recalled 22-year-old defenseman David Špaček from their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, on Jan. 14, a roster move billed by the organization as adding defensive depth and a power-play option to Minnesota’s blue line.

Špaček was having a productive season in Des Moines. Through 35 AHL games he posted 19 points, with three goals and 16 assists, fired 61 shots and collected 10 penalty minutes. The organization noted he ranked among Iowa’s leaders in both assists and shots, making him one of the primary playmakers and puck-movers on the farm club this season.

The team release highlighted Špaček’s recent track record as well. Minnesota referenced his 2024-25 season when he scored 31 points in 72 games and pointed to his international experience representing Czechia. The release also cataloged his AHL career totals, underscoring a steady development curve that pushed him into consideration for NHL playing time this winter.

General manager Bill Guerin framed the recall as a roster maneuver designed to add options on the right side of the defense corps and to give the Wild more flexibility on special teams. For Minnesota, the timing matters: the stretch run and road-heavy February schedule reward teams that can rotate defenders without a steep drop-off in transition play or power-play execution. Špaček’s assist totals and shot volume at the AHL level suggest he can step into a third-pairing role or take minutes on the second power-play unit while the club evaluates longer-term options.

For fans tracking the farm-to-ice pipeline, Špaček’s call-up is a useful marker of Iowa’s developmental progress. It shows the Wild are willing to lean on internal depth rather than immediate external signings, and it gives local followers a player to monitor for future returns to the NHL lineup. Fantasy managers in deep pools who follow AHL movement should note the change, as any time on the top power-play unit can translate into points.

What comes next is practical: watch Minnesota’s lineup announcements and special-teams deployment to see where Špaček slots in, and keep an eye on Iowa’s box scores to track who replaces his minutes down the stretch. The recall gives the Wild another tool as they navigate the season’s middle stretch and offers Špaček a chance to audition at the NHL level.