Iowa Wild Recall Leskovar, Rousseau From Heartlanders; Press Release Names Hlavaj, Zmolek

The Iowa Wild made a pair of ECHL-to-AHL recalls that matter for depth on defense and in net, but official sources show conflicting rosters for the same period. The league transactions feed and an initial report list Stevie Leskovar and William Rousseau as recalled from the Iowa Heartlanders, while a Wild press release names Leskovar alongside goaltender Samuel Hlavaj and defenseman Will Zmolek.

“Following are the ECHL transactions for Thursday, February 12, 2026:” the ECHL feed reads, and under the Iowa entry it lists: “Delete Stevie Leskovar, D Recalled to Iowa Wild by Minnesota” and “Delete William Rousseau, G Recalled by Iowa Wild.” An Original Report likewise states, “The Iowa Wild announced on Feb. 12 that the club has recalled defenseman Stevie Leskovar and goaltender William Rousseau from their ECHL affiliate Iowa Heartlanders.” By contrast the Iowa Wild release opens, “DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Wild General Manager Matt Hendricks today announced the American Hockey League (AHL) club has recalled defensemen Stevie Leskovar and Will Zmolek and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj from the Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL).”

For fans tracking prospects, Leskovar is the clearest signal. The 21-year-old defenseman was the Minnesota Wild’s sixth round pick, No. 174 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, and is a physical presence at 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds. The Wild release notes, “Leskovar, 21 (9/9/04), has totaled one goal, eight penalty minutes (PIM) and a plus-1 rating in 11 games with the Heartlanders this season. Leskovar also skated in one game with the Iowa Wild in 2024-25.” The release further details his junior background, including alternate captaincy with Brampton and cumulative OHL numbers, underlining why the Wild view him as a developmental call-up rather than a short-term fix.

Will Zmolek provides experienced AHL-ECHL depth on the back end. The Wild release lists Zmolek, 26 (4/17/1999), as having “recorded an assist and a plus-1 rating in three games with the Wild this season,” and summarizes his ECHL work with the Heartlanders and prior stints with Lehigh Valley and Reading. That track record positions Zmolek as a reliable, mobile option should the Wild need steadier minutes in the AHL.

By contrast, William Rousseau’s profile is thin in the public material supplied. The ECHL transactions record his removal from the Heartlanders roster as “Recalled by Iowa Wild,” but the Iowa Wild press release excerpt does not mention Rousseau. Samuel Hlavaj appears only in the Wild release and likewise lacks statistical detail in the excerpt. The conflicting documents leave open whether Rousseau was recalled to the AHL roster, whether Hlavaj and Rousseau were both moved at separate times, or whether there was a timing or clerical mismatch between league and team notices.

Beyond roster bookkeeping, these moves reflect the continuous churn that defines AHL and ECHL operations: NHL clubs and their affiliates shuffle young defensemen and depth goaltenders to manage injuries, workloads, and player development. Leskovar’s call-up underscores Minnesota’s investment in big, physical blueliners from the OHL pipeline, while Zmolek and the goalie options speak to the premium on journeyman versatility as teams push toward playoff positioning.

What comes next for fans is straightforward: watch the Wild’s gameday rosters and early line rushes for Leskovar’s potential appearance, and await clarification from Iowa Wild communications about Rousseau and Hlavaj. Those confirmations will determine whether Des Moines sees a new goaltending look or primarily a defensive shakeup from the recent recalls.