Being healthy enough to field a full, competitive 12-forward lineup has been elusive at best for the Minnesota Wild this season, with players hopping onto the injury report from the line chart with regularity.

And with forward Jakub Lauko poised to miss more time with the nagging injury that has already sidelined him for 21 games this season, the Wild made a move for some depth on Wednesday, claiming veteran forward Vinny Hinostroza off waivers from Nashville.

Hinostroza, 30, has played 13 games for the Predators this season, collecting a pair of assists while spending 26 games with Milwaukee in the AHL. Originally from the Chicago area, Hinostroza, 30, played two seasons of college hockey at Notre Dame before making his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in the 2015-16 season. He has played for Arizona, Florida, Buffalo and Pittsburgh prior to signing with Nashville last summer.

The Wild placed Lauko on injured reserve as a result of the addition of Hinostroza, who was originally picked by Chicago in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Draft.

NHLPA appeals Hartman’s suspension

The NHL Players’ Association said it has filed an appeal on Ryan Hartman’s behalf after the Minnesota Wild forward was suspended 10 games for roughing.

Hartman had 48 hours from the league’s ruling Monday night to decide whether to appeal the ban for slamming an opponent’s head to the ice with his right forearm, the longest for on-ice conduct in more than six years.

The initial appeal goes to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who has regularly sided with the Department of Player Safety and disciplinary decisions made by its vice president, George Parros. If Bettman upholds the suspension, Hartman has the right to appeal to a neutral arbitrator.

Hartman is forfeiting $487,805 in salary as part of his fifth career suspension and fourth since 2023. He would get more than $48,000 back for each game it is reduced by, if at all.

Washington’s Tom Wilson recouped six games worth of salary when his 2018 suspension was reduced from 20 to 14 on appeal to an arbitrator jointly appointed by the league and union, even though he had already served 16.

Hartman, 30, was initially ejected with a match penalty for roughing Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle late in the second period of the teams’ game Saturday night.

“Hartman contends that he is attempting to use his hand to regain his balance, using Stutzle for support and that their fall to the ice is accidental. We disagree,” Player Safety said in a video announcing the suspension. “With Stutzle bent low and focused on winning the draw, Hartman chooses to take advantage of a vulnerable player in an unacceptable fashion. Hartman intentionally uses his forearm and body weight to drive Stutzle’s head directly into the ice from a height, which makes this play inherently dangerous and unacceptable.”

— From news service