Minnesota Wild Claim Their Former Player on Waivers After Trade to Columbus Last Year

Last season, the Minnesota Wild acquired former top Blue Jackets prospect David Jiricek, and in the deal, they moved many pieces, believing the young defenseman could be a key piece of their future.

In return for Jiricek, the Blue Jackets acquired four picks, including a first, second, third and fifth rounder, as well as former third-round pick Daemon Hunt, who is yet to take the next step at the professional level.

However, the Wild have now surprised the NHL world, as they've acquired Hunt once more, officially claiming him on waivers on Friday as they look to add depth to the organization's blue line ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

This move comes after Hunt played in just 48 games for the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate the Cleveland Monsters, tallying 2 goals and 14 points in that time, with the 23-year old clearly not impressing the Blue Jackets front office.

The former third-round pick still has potential however, as he has a career high of 29 points in an AHL season, and with good size at 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, clearly the Wild believe he can still be a valuable asset to their organization.

Ultimately, this was a good piece of business for Minnesota, as they moved Hunt in the deal for Jiricek, and now get him back for free on waivers, and whether he plays NHL games this season or not, Hunt will serve as good depth for the team, and given the low cost to acquire him, it's hard to argue with this move.