DENVER – When he was among the final cuts at Wild training camp, getting assigned to the minors to start his first full-length professional season, Nico Sturm pinpointed Christmas on the calendar.
If he could be back with the Wild by then, that would be great, he thought.
But Sturm didn't just rejoin the team ahead of his target date. He has taken advantage of the opportunity to increase his comfort level in the NHL, a smooth transition that has helped the Wild weather the absence of captain Mikko Koivu because of injury.
"I'm happy," Sturm said. "I can learn a lot from both leagues. Obviously, I have different roles depending on where I'm at. But I still have a nice learning curve ahead of me, and I'm excited now to be here and get these games under my belt."
After getting returned to the American Hockey League ahead of the three-day holiday break, Sturm was recalled from Iowa on Friday morning and was back in the lineup against the Avalanche — resuming his post between wingers Jordan Greenway and Luke Kunin and winning seven out of nine faceoffs in 14 minutes, 52 seconds of ice time in a 6-4 win for the Wild.
"He was dynamite," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He works so hard. He's tough to play against."
Sturm's line was particularly effective Monday in a 3-0 win over the Flames, combining for a goal — a finish by Kunin that Greenway and Sturm set up — and registering nine shot attempts.
"He's always on the right side of the pucks doing the right things," Kunin said of Sturm. "I think he's getting more comfortable and making a few more plays. I thought we had a few good looks."