Panthers Acquire Vinnie Hinostroza From Wild The Florida Panthers have acquired winger Vinnie Hinostroza from the Minnesota Wild in a trade that clears up some forward depth for both teams. The deal was announced by both organizations, with Michael Russo of The Athletic being the first to report the transaction. The move allows Minnesota to shed a player who has been a rotational option for much of the season, while giving Florida an additional scoring threat as they navigate a challenging stretch of their schedule. Hinostroza, 28, was acquired by the Wild in the offseason after being claimed off the waiver wire from the Nashville Predators. He signed a two-year, two-way contract with Nashville in 2024 and is set to become a free agent this summer. Despite his NHL experience, Hinostroza has primarily served as an AHL call-up in recent seasons. However, a strong scoring performance with the Milwaukee Admirals last year, where he posted 24 points in 55 games, helped him reestablish himself in the league. He broke camp with the Wild in the fall and has since contributed as a depth forward, recording 3-7–10 in 48 games while averaging 10:18 of ice time per night. The trade comes as the Wild’s forward group is nearing full health following a series of injuries. With the addition of Bobby Brink and Nick Foligno in separate deals earlier in the day, Hinostroza’s role on the team has diminished. Minnesota is likely to let him play a bottom-six role in Florida, where the Panthers are also dealing with injuries and are expected to move on from winger A.J. Greer. This arrangement gives Hinostroza valuable playoff experience and increases his chances of securing a one-way contract as a free agent this summer. Hinostroza’s situation is complicated by the trade deadline.#minnesota_wild #vinnie_hinostroza #florida_panthers #michael_russo #milwaukee_admirals
