2023 Iowa Wild Offseason Player Tracker

SEASON SYNOPSIS

The Iowa Wild had a fairly strong 2022-23 season, finishing fourth in the Central with 79 points and a 34-27-6-5 record. Their consistency and work ethic helped Iowa secure a spot in the playoffs for the second year in a row. Unfortunately, the Rockford IceHogs got hot at the right time and swept the Wild in the first round. This unfortunate conclusion to the season led to the Wild deciding not to renew the contracts of head coach Tim Army and assistant coaches Nate DiCasmirro and Nolan Yonkman. 

Veteran forward Nic Petan had a strong showing for Wild, finishing first on the team with 62 points, second with 39 assists, and third with 23 goals. His consistency and work ethic paired well with young forward Sammy Walker. Their ability to communicate well allowed them to draw up quick plays which developed into beautiful goals.

The Iowa Wild take the 3-2 lead over the Grand Rapids Griffins with 14 seconds to play in the second period.

A strong pass from Steven Fogarty to Sammy Walker helped set it all in motion.

The smoothness of Walker & Nic Petan at the end was dreamy#10WAGROWN #GoGRG @FPC_AHL pic.twitter.com/LaLmXMLvzt

— Elaine Shircliff (@imaraindancer) January 12, 2023

After posting a .908 save percentage and a 18-15-5 record, goaltender Jesper Wallstedt was named to the inaugural AHL Top Prospects team. His one goal placed him atop the leaderboard in the league with Chicago’s Pyotr Kochetkov.

One of the biggest losses of the offseason for the Wild was defender Joe Hicketts, who signed a one-year, two-way contract with the LA Kings on July 2. During his time with Iowa, Hicketts showed he was more than a bruiser by becoming a more well-rounded two-way defenseman. In fact, at the end of the regular season, Hicketts finished in a four-way tie for eight place in the league with 42 assists.

(List updated as of Sept. 20th, 1:40pm CT)

UNDER CONTRACT AND RE-SIGNINGS

Forwards

• Adam Beckman – Last year of entry-level contract
• Sam Hentges – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Marco Rossi – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Michael Milne – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Nic Petan – Last year of NHL contract
• Nick Swaney – Last year of NHL contract
• Sammy Walker – Last year of entry-level contract
• Steven Fogarty – Last year of NHL contract
• Casey Dornback – Signed an ATO for 2022-23 and one-year, one-way AHL contract for 2023-24 on March 31 (played for Iowa and the Univ. of Denver [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Mike O’Leary – Signed one-year, two-way AHL contract on June 6
• Kevin Conley – Signed one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 3

Defensemen

• Daemon Hunt – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Dakota Mermis – Last year of NHL contract
• Ryan O’Rourke – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Simon Johansson – Last year of entry-level contract

Goaltenders

• Jesper Wallstedt – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Zane McIntyre – Last year of NHL contract
• Hunter Jones – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract extension on June 23

NEW ADDITIONS

Forwards

• Caedan Bankier – Signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract on March 1 (played for the Kamloops Blazers in 2022-23)
• Louis Boudon – Signed one-year, two-way AHL contract on March 31 (played for the Iowa Wild & Heartlanders, Laval Rocket, and Lake Superior State Univ. [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Vinni Lettieri – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract on July 1 (played for the Boston and Providence Bruins in 2022-23)
• Max Cajkovic – Traded to Minnesota on July 2 (last year of entry-level contract; played for Syracuse and ECHL Orlando in 2022-23)
• Brett Budgell – Signed one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 3 (played for ECHL Newfoundland in 2022-23)
• Jake Lucchini – Signed one-year, one-way AHL contract  on July 3 (played for the Ottawa and Belleville Senators in 2022-23)
• Kale Kessy – Signed one-year, one-way AHL contract on July 3 (played for AHL Colorado and Hershey in 2022-23)
• Joël Teasdale – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on August 7 (played for Montreal and Laval in 2022-23)
• Jujhar Khaira – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on September 17 (played for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23)

Defensemen

• Carson Lambos – First year of entry-level contract (entry-level slide; played for the Winnipeg ICE of the WHL in 2022-23)
• David Spacek – Signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract on March 6 (played for the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL in 2022-23)
• Kyle Masters – Signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract on March 9 (played for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL in 2022-23)
• Brock Faber – Signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract on April 9 (played for Minnesota and the Univ. of Minnesota [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Landon Kosior – Signed one-year, two-way AHL contract on June 20 (played for the Prince Albert Raiders in 2022-23)
• Brenden Miller – Signed one-year, one-way AHL contract on July 3 (played for Iowa, Cleveland, and ECHL Kalamazoo in 2022-23)

Coaches

• Brett McLean – Announced as head coach on May 30 (previously assistant coach for the Minnesota Wild)
• Ben Simon – Announced as assistant coach on July 5 (previously the head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins)
• Patrick Dwyer – Announced as assistant coach on July 5 (previously the assistant coach of the Chicago Wolves)

DEPARTURES

Forwards

• Damien Giroux – Signed a one-year AHL contract with Rochester on July 11 (did not receive qualifying offer on June 30)
• Mitchell Balmas – Signed a one-year contract with the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL on September 3
• Tanner Kaspick – Signed a PTO with the San Jose Sharks on September 18
• Patrick Curry – Signed a one-year AHL contract with Coachella Valley on September 20

Defensemen

• Joe Hicketts – Signed one-year, two-way NHL contract with Los Angeles on July 2
• Turner Ottenbreit – Signed a one-year contract with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL on September 1

Coaches

• Tim Army – Contract not renewed at the end of the season
• Nate DiCasmirro – Contract not renewed at the end of the season
• Nolan Yonkman – Contract not renewed at the end of the season

FREE AGENTS

Forwards

• Brandon Baddock – UFA

(Special thanks to CapFriendly and Elite Prospects for all the contract terms and definitions for this offseason player tracker!)

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Other 2023 AHL Off Season Trackers :

Links will be updated as articles are released.

Central

• Chicago Wolves
• Grand Rapids Griffins
• Iowa Wild
• Manitoba Moose
• Milwaukee Admirals
• Rockford IceHogs
• Texas Stars

Pacific

• Abbotsford Canucks
• Bakersfield Condors
• Calgary Wranglers
• Coachella Valley Firebirds
• Colorado Eagles
• Henderson Silver Knights
• Ontario Reign
• San Diego Gulls
• San Jose Barracuda
• Tucson Roadrunners

Atlantic

• Bridgeport Islanders
• Charlotte Checkers
• Hartford Wolf Pack
• Hershey Bears
• Lehigh Valley Phantoms
• Providence Bruins
• Springfield Thunderbirds 
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

North

• Belleville Senators
• Cleveland Monsters
• Laval Rocket
• Rochester Americans
• Syracuse Crunch
• Toronto Marlies
• Utica Comets