Nico Sturm
C MIN
Mon 2/2/26 11:21 AM

Sturm (illness) will suit up against the Canadiens on Monday, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Sturm will be back in the lineup after missing just one game due to illness. The veteran forward has been struggling offensively, going 13 games without a goal while generating a mere two helpers. Tyler Pitlick figures to be the odd man out with Sturm returning to a bottom-six role.

Nico Sturm
C MIN
Sat 1/31/26 10:02 PM

Sturm (illness) won't play versus the Oilers on Saturday.
EDGE Analysis
Tyler Pitlick will enter the lineup in Sturm's place. With the absence, Sturm will end January with one goal, two assists, nine shots on net and 13 hits over 14 appearances. His next chance to play is Monday versus the Canadiens.

Nico Sturm
C MIN
Sat 1/3/26 1:58 AM

Sturm scored a goal in Friday's 5-2 win over the Ducks.
EDGE Analysis
Sturm had the Wild's fifth goal to help secure the win. The 30-year-old chipped in with five points over 15 outings in December, and he continues to add a little depth scoring from a bottom-six role. Overall, he's produced three goals, seven points, 21 shots on net, 22 hits, 11 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating across 20 appearances.

Nico Sturm
C MIN
Sun 12/21/25 1:17 PM

Sturm scored an empty-net goal on three shots in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Oilers.
EDGE Analysis
Sturm ended his 11-game goal drought with the tally. He had three assists and 13 shots on net during that span. The 30-year-old forward is in the lineup for his defensive skills more than anything, as he's chipped in five points over 14 appearances while adding 18 shots on net, 14 hits and eight blocked shots.

Nico Sturm
C MIN
Sun 12/14/25 5:41 PM

Sturm (upper body) is in warmups and will play Sunday against the Bruins, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Sturm was injured towards the end of the game Saturday night against the Senators, and his status was in doubt for Sunday. He is in warmups though and will center Minnesota's fourth line with Ben Jones and Tyler Pitlick. The 30-year-old will appear in his 11th straight game since a lengthy absence to begin the season, registering one goal and three assists in those outings.

Nico Sturm
C MIN
Sat 12/13/25 5:05 PM

Sturm exited Saturday's game against Ottawa because of an upper-body injury, per Joe Smith of The Athletic.
EDGE Analysis
Sturm is believed to be okay, Smith reported after the game, so the 30-year-old forward might still be able to play Sunday versus Boston. Sturm registered an assist in 10:38 of ice time before leaving Saturday's match. If Sturm can't play against the Bruins, then Hunter Haight will probably draw into the lineup.

Nico Sturm
C MIN
Thu 11/27/25 2:12 PM

Sturm scored a goal on two shots and added three hits in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks.
EDGE Analysis
This was Sturm's second game back after missing Minnesota's first 22 games due to a back injury. The 30-year-old's returned has helped fortify the Wild's bottom six. In addition to his goal, he's collected six hits and two blocked shots. Even when the team gets back to full health, Sturm should be able to maintain at least a fourth-line role thanks to his defensive play.

Nico Sturm
C MIN
Fri 11/21/25 1:04 PM

Sturm (back) was activated off injured reserve Friday.
EDGE Analysis
Sturm missed the first month and a half of the 2025-26 campaign due to a back injury, but his season debut is imminent. Although he'll officially be available to suit up for Friday's game in Pittsburgh, a previous report from Michael Russo of The Athletic suggested that Sturm would practice Saturday before potentially returning to game action, so it seems as though the 30-year-old could spend at least one more matchup on the shelf. Sturm made 62 regular-season appearances between San Jose and Florida last year, recording seven goals, seven assists, 107 hits, 34 blocked shots and 20 PIM while averaging 10:25 of ice time. He'll likely handle a bottom-six role once he suits up for Minnesota.

Nico Sturm
C MIN
Tue 11/18/25 1:01 PM

Head coach John Hynes said Tuesday that Sturm (back) is "maybe a week or two away" from making his season debut, per Jessi Pierce of NHL.com.
EDGE Analysis
Sturm has yet to play in 2025-26 and is on injured reserve due to a long-term back injury. He is expected to return to the lineup before the end of November. Once he's able to suit up, he'll slot into a bottom-six role, which could see Ben Jones be a healthy scratch or relegated to the minors.

Nico Sturm
C MIN
Thu 10/9/25 1:29 PM

Head coach John Hynes said Thursday that Sturm (back) is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Sturm returned to the ice for Friday's preseason finale against Chicago after dealing with a back issue during training camp, but he apparently aggravated his injury, as he was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. Hynes said Wednesday that Sturm was expected to miss "significant time," and the team expects the 30-year-old to undergo back surgery that will sideline him for over a month. Hunter Haight will make his NHL debut during Thursday's Opening Night matchup against St. Louis and should have a chance to make an impact in Sturm's absence.