Vinnie Hinostroza hopes to find a home after dream Wild debut: 'That was a lot of fun'

ST.

PAUL, Minn.

Marcus Foligno celebrated like it was his goal, and looking at the replay, it sure looked like he got his stick under Freddie Andersen to shovel the puck from underneath the huge goaltender and over the goal line early in the third period Thursday night.

Thats why he led the fist-bumping fly-by at the Wild bench afterward.

Advertisement I thought it was mine, Foligno said after the Wilds 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes for their first win at Xcel Energy Center since Jan.

7.

And thats why when they announced the goal as Vinnie Hinostrozas first with the Wild, Foligno sheepishly told the Wild newcomer that he hopes Hinostroza didnt want the puck as a memento because neither Foligno nor linemate Freddy Gaudreau thought to even scoop it up.

No replay shows a picture of Folignos stick touching the puck, so even though the veteran could probably claim the goal as his and have it officially changed, what fun would that be? Its certainly a better story when a freshly acquired player walks into the Wild locker room for the first time on the morning of a game and leaves with the winning goal later that night.

It had only been done seven times previously in Wild history with Hinostroza becoming the eighth.

Hes also the 31st player to score in his Wild debut.

I kinda felt like it was (my goal) because I was right there after I tipped it, said Hinostroza, who deflected Jared Spurgeons point shot off the post, off Andersen and in.

But I saw Moose celly, so I didnt know if he got it under the goalie there.

So once I saw the replay, I kind of knew.

It felt like we had a really good game as a line.

We had a lot of opportunities, so that was a lot of fun.

1st goal in a Wild sweater for Vinnie Hinostroza !! pic.twitter.com/8yj7bAdfrG Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) February 7, 2025 Hinostroza sure impressed Thursday night considering he got claimed off waivers Wednesday at 1 p.m.

from the Nashville Predators, packed a couple giant suitcases and shipped the rest of his stuff home to his wife, Samantha, in Elmhurst, Ill., before flying to Minnesota and arriving late Wednesday night.

Not only did the 30-year-old journeyman score his first NHL goal since Nov.

4, 2023 on his third shot of the game, coach John Hynes trusted him so much that he threw him on the ice in the final seconds of the game as Filip Gustavsson and the Wild desperately tried to preserve their one-goal lead.

Advertisement Yeah, that felt really good, Hinostroza said.

I think anytime the coach looks at you and tells you to go out there, especially when youre up 2-1 against the Carolina Hurricanes, that says a lot.

So Im happy to get those opportunities and try to take advantage of them.

In the end, Gustavsson made 37 saves in a game in which the Hurricanes, who have registered the second-most shots in the NHL, had 91 shot attempts.

Thats why an exhausted Gustavsson was slow to embrace his teammates after the final horn sounded.

He just remained bent over in his stance.

You just try and breathe as much as you can and move and get something to your brain so you can keep focused, Gustavsson said.

Usually were very happy (after a win) and then talk to each other when they come down (to celebrate).

I just had to catch my breath two seconds first there.

As Gustavsson said, thats the Hurricanes the Wild are used to seeing a team that fires from everywhere.

Considering last month in Raleigh when Gustavsson posted a 21-save shutout, he said, It just didnt feel like them.

Today they really showed up and gave us a really good game.

But the Wild held on for a much-needed win heading into Saturdays final game before the long break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The win snapped a four-game slide at home, where they had lost nine of their previous 13.

They were coming off consecutive shutout losses on the road but got a couple goals from the third and fourth lines between Hinostroza and Yakov Trenin, respectively.

Thats badly needed with the top six in a big-time funk without superstar Kirill Kaprizov.

Lets remember: with Kaprizov and Jakub Lauko hurt and Ryan Hartman suspended, the Wild plucked Hinostroza off waivers rather than recall somebody like Ben Jones (zero points in 26 games) because they felt he could chip in offensively better than what theyve been getting from their Iowa recalls.

Advertisement Not only does he have a history of scoring in the AHL, Hinostroza has scored 55 goals and 154 points in 388 NHL games.

Its something that hes shown to have the ability of in the NHL and at the American League level, wherever hes played, Hynes said.

Id probably say the last couple of weeks that the guys that are playing in the nine through 12 roles have brought ...

some depth scoring on the road trip, and obviously we got it again tonight.

So thats a big difference and I think its important.

Itll be important down the stretch that you have some contributions throughout the lineup.

Gustavsson was impressed with his new teammate.

Coming into the locker room, new system to play with, new teammates to be comfortable around, and coming in and playing like hes been with the team all year, I really liked what I saw from him, Gustavsson said.

Its not an easy life for guys like Hinostroza.

Sure, they make handsome livings.

Nobodys crying for a guy who makes a prorated $775,000 when hes in the NHL and $450,000 when hes in the AHL.

But when youve played hundreds of NHL games and know your time in the NHL is likely temporary and waivers are inevitable, its not easy.

I give those guys a ton of credit, Hynes said.

The players, thats something when you look at in the offseason, its the guys that have done that that still have the hunger to do it and the willingness to do it.

Theyre away from their families.

Theyre up and down.

They move.

Theyre on the fly that sometimes they travel and play in the game.

Theyre parachuted right into the team, and then they have to play a role thats supportive of the team.

But the hunger to do it, the willingness to do it; I think the pride they have to play in the NHL, and theyre ultimate team guys, and the players that we have in the organization are willing to do that.

And theyve helped us.

Hinostroza has three children all under the age of 4.

Because he and his wife never knew if hed be in Nashville or Milwaukee, his wife and kids have been living at home outside Chicago all season.

As Im getting older Ive seen players go through it, and sometimes once they go through it a few times, it kind of trickles down their career and stuff, Hinostroza said of going from being a full-time NHLer to an up-and-down player.

But I just try to keep a positive mindset through the last few years.

I know how I can play, and I think my best hockey is still ahead of me, so thats always been my mindset.

Advertisement Hes on his seventh team, and thats not easy.

Wednesday, the Predators were flying to Chicago for a game.

His oldest son, also named Vinnie, who turns 4 Sunday, was so excited Dad was coming home.

Then Mom had to explain Dad was no longer on the Predators.

Vinnie, Hinostroza said, was devastated.

In and out of hotels and away from family, its not an easy lifestyle, Foligno said.

I give those guys a lot of credit.

Mentally, thats the biggest thing, right? You dont know what tomorrow is gonna bring and its a tough, tough place to be in.

But a lot of these guys that we have that are in those roles are unbelievable people, good character people and they seem just to deal with it really well.

Ive played against Vinnie for a bit now and youve always felt like he should be a regular ...

He always bought that skill and speed, so you know if we can find some chemistry and maybe he needed just some balanced players to play with, then thats what were gonna do.

Im excited to have him and if we can build off this game itll be great.

Hinostroza admitted he had a lot of emotions walking into the Wild locker room.

Its never easy, but he said his Wild teammates made it easier.

It also helped that he was in Ryan Hartmans wedding party two summers ago, so he had met a lot of these players there.

It was a tremendous first impression to his new organization.

Theres (32) teams, and you always think youre going to clear (waivers), he said.

So until it happens, you never know.

And then all of a sudden its just rushing to get here.

Youre not really thinking about hockey and whatnot.

And then you get here, and its just, Go, go, go! After getting in late Wednesday night, Hinostroza was looking forward to a good night sleep after Thursdays game.

And then back at it tomorrow, he said.

Advertisement His life, like all up and down players, is just day by day, he said.

Thats why hes not taking solace in one game-winning goal in one dream debut for his seventh team.

Thats why he refuses to get comfortable.

Hes been here before.

He knows one good game doesnt make a career and one good game doesnt mean waivers wont be in his future again.

I think I did my best today, and we got practice tomorrow, Hinostroza said.

Thats (a chance) to make another impression.

And just keep building every day.

(Top photo of Vinnie Hinostrozas goal: Bruce Kluckhohn / NHLI via Getty Images).

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