SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has claimed forward Vinnie Hinostroza (pronounced hihn-oh-STROH-za) off waivers from the Nashville Predators and placed forward Jakub Lauko (lower-body) on Injured Reserve.
Hinostroza, 30, has recorded two assists and six penalty minutes (PIM) in 13 NHL games with Nashville this season. He has also tallied 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 26 games with the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, leading the Admirals in scoring and assists and ranking T-2nd in goals for the 2024-25 season. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound native of Chicago, Illinois, has amassed 153 points (54 goals, 99 assists) in 387 career games over parts of 10 NHL seasons with Chicago, Arizona, Florida, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Nashville (2015-25). Hinostroza has also recorded 159 points (62 goals, 97 assists) in 188 career AHL contests over parts of seven seasons with Milwaukee, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Rochester, and Rockford (2014-18, 2022-25).
During his collegiate career, Hinostroza tallied 76 points (19 goals, 57 assists) in 76 games over two seasons at the University of Notre Dame (2013-15). He led Notre Dame in scoring with 44 points (11 goals, 33 assists) in 42 contests during the 2014-15 season and was named to the Hockey East First All-Star Team. Hinostroza was selected by the Blackhawks in the sixth round (169th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. He will wear sweater No. 18 with Minnesota.
