Sturm has missed the last two games with an illness but will replace Brad Hunt in the lineup Tuesday vs. the Kings. Sturm, who will skate on the fourth line with Victor Rask and Ryan Hartman, has no points and nine shots on goal in four games this season.
Sturm spent most of his first professional season in the AHL, where he was fifth on Iowa with 32 points (12G / 20A) in 55 games. With Eric Staal traded to Buffalo, Ryan Donato traded to San Jose and both Mikko Koivu and Alex Galchenyuk expected to hit free agency, the door is wide open for Sturm to play in the NHL full-time in 2021.
With Mikko Koivu expected to return to the Wild's lineup on Tuesday, Sturm heads back to Iowa where he has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 25 games this season.
Sturm has been called up on several occasions this season but has yet to appear in a game with the Wild in 2019-20. The 24-year-old centre could make his season debut this week with Joel Eriksson Ek going on IR.
Sturm did not appear in a game during his time with Minnesota and returns to Iowa, where he has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 23 games this season.
Sturm has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 23 AHL games this season and comes up to take Mikko Koivu's spot on the roster. Sturm failed to register a point in two NHL games last year.
After finishing his Junior season at Clarkson University, Sturm turned pro and appeared in two NHL games with the Wild at the end of 2019. The 24-year-old led Clarkson with 45 points (14G / 31A) in 39 games. Sturm has NHL-size (6-foot-3, 207 lbs.) but with Eric Staal, Mikko Koivu, Joel Eriksson Ek and Victor Rask ahead of him on the depth chart, he is likely headed for the AHL to start the year.
