SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled forwards Nick Swaney and Sammy Walker from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Swaney, 25, has recorded 28 points (16-12=28), 14 penalty minutes (PIM), three power-play goals (PPG) and 129 shots in 46 games with Iowa this season, ranking third on the team with a plus-13 rating. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound native of Lakeville, Minn., owns 68 points (3-35=68), 32 PIM, six PPG and a plus-19 rating in 114 career AHL games, all with Iowa. Swaney recorded 101 points (46-55=101) and 20 PIM in four seasons (2017-21) at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, helping the Bulldogs to consecutive NCAA Championships wins in 2018 and 2019. He was selected by the Wild in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft and most recently signed a one-year, two-way contract with Minnesota on July 17, 2022. He will wear sweater No. 72 with the Wild and has yet to appear in an NHL regular-season or postseason contest.
Walker, 23, has tallied 46 points (26-20=46) and a plus-18 rating in 54 games with Iowa this season. He leads Iowa in goals and PPG (nine), is tied for first in plus/minus rating, ranks second with five game-winning goals (GWG) and fifth in points. Among AHL rookies, Walker is tied for second in GWG and ranks third in goals, tied for third in PPG and is fifth in plus/minus rating. Walker has tallied one goal and seven shots in eight games with Minnesota this season. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound native of Edina, Minnesota, recorded 112 points (48-64=112) and 81 PIM in 144 games during four seasons at the University of Minnesota (2018-22). Originally selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round (200th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Walker signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Minnesota on Aug. 18, 2022. Walker made his NHL debut on Dec. 10 at Vancouver and recorded his first career NHL goal on Dec. 27 at Winnipeg. He wears sweater No. 74 with the Wild.
