On the announcement day, Minnesota Wild’s President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin confirmed that the team secured forward Nico Sturm with a two-year contract worth $4 million, extending through the 2026-27 NHL season. This deal, averaging $2 million per year, brings Sturm back to the Wild after his recent seasons with other NHL clubs.
Sturm’s Recent Performance and Career Highlights
At 30 years old, Nico Sturm played 62 games last season split between the San Jose Sharks and the Florida Panthers, managing 14 points with seven goals and seven assists, alongside 20 penalty minutes. He was also part of Florida’s Stanley Cup-winning roster, appearing in eight playoff games. Sturm originally debuted in Minnesota on April 4, 2019, against Boston. Over four seasons with the Wild (2018-2022), he contributed 36 points and took 146 shots in 111 games, adding to his playoff experience with nine Stanley Cup playoff games and three points during those runs.
Career Statistics and Championship Experience
Across his seven NHL seasons, Nico Sturm has played 331 games with multiple teams, including Minnesota, Colorado, San Jose, and Florida. His career totals include 92 points—balanced evenly between goals and assists—with four game-winning goals and a faceoff win percentage of 56.5%. He has participated in 30 Stanley Cup playoff games, recording five points and claiming two Stanley Cup titles with Colorado in 2022 and Florida in 2025.
Collegiate Success and Early Career
Before turning professional, Sturm had a standout collegiate hockey career at Clarkson University from 2016 to 2019. He amassed 103 points in 118 games, led his team with 45 points in his junior year, and displayed strong defensive skills and faceoff proficiency, winning nearly 58% of his draws that season. His achievements earned him prestigious honors such as the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward award twice, a spot as a Top Ten Hobey Baker Award Finalist, and selections to the ECAC All-Tournament Team and First-Team All-League in 2018-19.
Sturm’s Return Reflects Minnesota Wild’s Strategic Reinforcement
Originally signed by Minnesota as a free agent in April 2019, Nico Sturm’s return underlines the Wild’s plan to bolster their forward lineup with a player familiar with the organization and experienced in playoff competition. His combination of size, defensive responsibility, and versatility is expected to contribute positively as the Wild prepare for upcoming seasons.