Wild call up 1st round picks Boldy and Rossi to make NHL debut against Bruins

This just in, the Minnesota Wild have called up top prospects Matthew Boldy and Marco Rossi from the AHL's Iowa Wild.

While the Wild's official press release states that the players have been recalled to the team's taxi squad, Wild insider Michael Russo reports that both players will make their NHL debuts on Thursday against the visiting Boston Bruins.

More from Russo:

"These likely won't be permanent recalls, but both players should inject immediate life and skill to a team that needs to start playing desperate hockey heading into games Thursday in Boston and Saturday at home vs. Washington before it's idle again most of next week because of postponements. Both players are averaging more than a point per game in Iowa, have scored big goals, constantly produced and can add skill to the Wild's 25th-ranked power play."

Michael Russo

The two forwards have been playing for their first season of pro hockey with the Wild's team's AHL affiliate this season and have acquitted themselves quite well. Rossi, just 20 years old, leads the team with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 21 games. Boldy, 20, has four goals and 10 points in 10 games. He has missed time because of a broken ankle and a lower-body injury sustained last month.

Boldy, selected 12th out of Boston College, is the only top-20 pick in the 2019 draft yet to make his NHL debut.

Minnesota drafted Rossi with the No. 9 pick in 2020. After testing positive for COVID-19 in November 2020, he was diagnosed with a temporary heart issue and did not play last season. He was in Minnesota's training camp this preseason before he was assigned to the AHL. He has four goals and 10 points in 10 games with the Iowa Wild this season.

The Wild are hoping that the injection of youthful energy that these two players provide can help them turn around a five game win-less streak that includes a 6-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues at the 2022 Winter Classic at Target Field on New Year's Day this past weekend.