The beginning of the American Hockey League season every year usually brings the excitement of new draftees, minor league promotions, call-ups to the NHL and players trying to take one last shot, and the Minnesota Wild’s AHL affiliate are no exception. But in 2021, things aren’t “business as usual.” Tim Army and the Iowa Wild will have to operate amongst the spectre of COVID-19, meaning more of their players than usual will be away from the team as part of the taxi squad.
2019-20 Iowa Wild recap:
Record: 37-18-4-4
Division finish: Second
Goals: Gerald Mayhew (39)
Assists: Sam Anas (50)
Points: Sam Anas (70)
Goaltender wins: Kaapo Kahkonen (25)
Uncertainty aside, the 2021 Iowa Wild should be an exciting team to keep an eye on, with a bunch of nearly ready NHL prospects bolstering a roster that was slated to finish second in the Central behind the Milwaukee Admirals, and was poised to make a Calder Cup run for the second season in a row had the AHL playoffs not been canceled.