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Minnesota Wild Recall Top Prospect Carson Lambos; Assign Justin Kirkland To AHL

The Minnesota Wild have reshuffled their roster ahead of Thursday’s home match against the St. Louis Blues, recalling defenseman Carson Lambos from the AHL’s Iowa Wild to address a depleted blue line.

Injuries to Jared Spurgeon and Olli Maatta—both sidelined for the night—forced the team to prioritize depth at defense, opting to bring up Lambos (1 goal, 2 points in 4 AHL games this season) over an additional forward. Lambos, a 23-year-old with just one NHL game under his belt, will likely serve as the seventh defenseman until an injured player returns, while fellow 23-year-old David Spacek retains his roster spot over him.

Meanwhile, forward Justin Kirkland—who was recalled earlier this season after Nico Sturm’s head injury—has been sent back to the AHL. The 30-year-old center, who logged 50 NHL games with 3 goals and 10 points in his career, has shown limited offensive impact this season, recording just two assists in four AHL games.

The Wild’s defensive corps, already thin with seven players missing in seven games, now faces further uncertainty as Matt Kiersted joins the injured list without a clear recovery timeline. The team’s projected lineup reflects the scrambling adjustments, with a mix of veterans and prospects filling key roles.

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