Wild make bold roster gamble ahead of heated divisional clash with Avalanche

The Minnesota Wild recalled forward Ben Jones from the AHL Iowa Wild, ahead of their matchup against Colorado. The move adds a fresh depth option as Minnesota looks for energy and structure against an Avalanche team pushing pace.

Dylan Loucks from The Hockey News writes that Jones, 25, has been a reliable two way center in Iowa this season, producing steady offense while handling defensive assignments. He was originally drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft and later moved to Minnesota in the Jack Eichel trade tree.

At the NHL level, Jones has bounced between roles, often trusted on the fourth line with spot penalty killing work. His skating and forecheck fit Minnesota's preference for controlled exits and pressure through the neutral zone.

For Colorado, the recall matters because it hints at how Minnesota wants to play this game. When the Wild lean on depth centers, they usually aim to slow transition, clog the middle, and force dump ins rather than rush chances.

Colorado enters the matchup relying on speed through the lineup, with Nathan MacKinnon driving entries and Martin Necas hunting space in the slot. Against structured teams like Minnesota, Jared Bednar's group often needs quick puck movement from the blue line to avoid getting bogged down.

From a fan perspective, this feels like one of those quiet roster moves that ends up annoying for sixty minutes. Avalanche fans have seen depth call ups tilt puck battles and chew clock before.

Jones does not change Minnesota's top six, but he strengthens their bottom lines, especially on faceoffs and defensive zone starts. That can matter against Colorado's third and fourth units, which have rotated through injuries and call ups of their own this season.

The timing also suggests Minnesota wants fresh legs for a divisional opponent rather than banking on familiarity. The Wild have leaned on structure and goaltending to stay competitive, even when scoring dries up.

For the Avalanche, the answer usually comes from pace and discipline. Clean breakouts, quick support through the middle, and avoiding extended shifts in the defensive zone remain the formula.

This game will not hinge solely on Ben Jones, but his recall signals the kind of night Colorado should expect. Tight lanes, heavy shifts, and little space, especially early.

By the final horn, the Avalanche will know whether their speed dictated terms, or if Minnesota's depth once again dragged the game into the mud.