COLUMBUS, Ohio — There are a lot of numbers that can be used to define the underwhelming season the Minnesota Wild are having, from record (16-17-4) to salary cap space ($40,000), to longest losing streak (7) and head coaches employed (2).

Just as revealing is the number of players recalled so far from top minor league club Iowa, nine and counting, with goaltender Jesper Wallstedt expected to be called up for his first NHL games sometime over the next few days.

Injuries have been a major problem this season, and almost exclusively for players the salary cap-strapped Wild were counting on to play a lot of games this season, such as Kirill Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Freddy Gaudreau, Matt Boldy, Ryan Hartman and Filip Gustavsson.

Adam Raska on Friday became the ninth player the Wild have called up from Iowa this season to help plug holes left by a large handful of injuries to key contributors. On Saturday, he was set to become the eighth of those players to get into an NHL game with the parent club.

“He’s a speed player,” head coach John Hynes said. “He brings some physicality to the game.”

Raska is a plus-1 with no points in eight NHL games, all with San Jose. Acquired Nov. 8 in the trade that sent Calen Addison to the Sharks, he was set to join Connor Dewar and Brandon Duhaime on the fourth line against the Blue Jackets. In 20 games in Des Moines, he has one goal and 61 penalty minutes.

“He’s a tenacious guy, and he brings a competitive, physical element to his game that will be good to have in the Bottom Six,” Hynes said.

It’s a role Raska, 22, embraces.

Asked to describe his game, the Czechia native said, “Fourth line, physicality, play hard, make it hard for them and easy for our Top Six players. Just get out there, skate and make it hard for (the opponent).”

To prepare, Raska said, he watched some recent games and studied his new linemates.

“They’re playing kind of like me. They’re obviously older, so have more experience,” he said. “I asked them and they use the same call on the ice — ‘Dew! Dew!’ So, if I want a puck, I’ll just scream, ‘Dew!’ ”

Zuccarello returns

Zuccarello returned Friday from an eight-game absence with a fractured arm, suffered when he was hit by a puck shot by teammate Brandon Hunt in a shootout victory over Vancouver on Dec. 16 (he returned to finish the game and score the shootout winner).

“It’s always tough, but I’m old enough to know it’s part of the game,” Zuccarello said before joining Boldy and Marco Rossi on the second line at Nationwide Arena. “You want to play, obviously, so it’s boring.”

Zuccarello ranks second on the team with 28, and with Kaprizov on injured reserve with a lower back injury, is the active leader. Also out Saturday were Spurgeon and Brodin, and Gustavsson is on injured reserve with a lower body injury.

Walker exits

To make room for Raska, the Wild returned forward Sammy Walker to Iowa. After a productive preseason, the former Gophers star has played four fairly nondescript games with the big league club. The last two, losses to Winnipeg and Tampa Bay, were his first for Hynes.

Walker, 24, had two shots on goal and no points.

“The big lesson out of that … is that he’s a speed, energy player, so when you get into those situations on the forecheck, in the offensive zone, is to get over to pucks, create turnovers, be a little bit more competitive in those areas of the ice,” Hynes said after Saturday’s morning skate. “I think that would help him in his next opportunity that he gets, to kind of take that lesson and understand what he needs to do a little bit better.”

A PLACE TO GROW

Adam Raska became the ninth player the Wild have recalled from Iowa this season, joining this group of players the parent club has asked to help fill in for injured players. Totals include Saturday’s game at Columbus.

Player/Pos.               First game     Total
Dakota Mermis, D*    10/17/23          22
Vinni Lettieri, F*         10/24/23         19
Daemon Hunt, D*      10/27/23          9
Jake Lucchini, F*       12/23/23          5
Zane McIntyre, G*      N/A                 N/A
Nic Petan, F *            11/18/23          5
Sammy Walker, F      10/19/23          4
Jujhar Khaira, F         10/26/23          1
Adam Raska, F*         01/06/24         1

*Minnesota roster

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