Wild claim Vinnie Hinostroza off waivers from Predators

The Minnesota Wild claimed center Vinnie Hinostroza off waivers from the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.

This season, Hinostroza had primarily played with the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators’ top minor-league affiliate, where through 26 appearances he produced well north of a point per game in collecting 11 goals and 22 assists alongside 14 penalty minutes and a plus-seven rating. Recalled to Nashville in late December, Hinostroza then made 13 appearances with the Predators, notching two assists with six penalty minutes.

In July, Hinostroza signed a two-year, two-way contract worth the Predators that carries a $775,000 annual average value at the NHL level, per PuckPedia. To note, Wednesday’s transaction marks the second time this season that Hinostroza has been on waivers after he first cleared in late September.

Prior to joining the Predators, Hinostroza split the 2023-24 campaign between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the organization’s farm club. With the Penguins, Hinostroza tallied one goal and two assists for three points in 14 outings, while with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins he scored 16 goals and added 19 assists for 35 points through 42 outings.

Originally chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Hinostroza has seen 387 career contests counting stops with the Blackhawks, the former Arizona Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres, Penguins, and Predators in which he has registered 54 goals and 99 assists for 153 points. With the Coyotes in 2018-19, Hinostroza reached career highs in all major offensive categories including 16 goals, 23 assists, and 39 points.

Hinostroza joins a Wild squad that sits third place in the Central Division with a 31-19-4 record and 66 points. In the midst of a two-game losing skid, the Wild will look to return to the win column when the club retakes the ice Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes.