Panthers acquire Vinnie Hinostroza from Wild
The Florida Panthers acquired forward vinnie hinostroza from the Minnesota Wild on Friday (ET) in exchange for future considerations. Bill Zito, President of Hockey Operations & General Manager of the Florida Panthers, announced the transaction. The Wild moved the 31-year-old after clearing forward room following recent acquisitions.
Immediate details
The Panthers’ announcement lays out a straightforward swap: Florida gains a veteran depth forward while Minnesota will receive future considerations. Hinostroza, 31, posted three goals and 10 points in 48 games this season with the Wild. He is under contract through the end of the 2025-26 season with a $775, 000 NHL cap hit and previously suited up for nine games with the Panthers in the 2020-21 campaign.
Hinostroza first joined Minnesota midway through the 2024-25 season when the Wild claimed him off waivers from the Nashville Predators. In that initial stretch with the Wild he finished a regular season portion with five goals and eight points in 25 games and made one playoff appearance for the club.
Career snapshot
Club records show Hinostroza is an NHL veteran with extensive experience across multiple organizations. He has skated in 460 career NHL games over parts of 11 seasons, collecting 62 goals and 171 points while appearing for the Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild. He was originally selected in the sixth round (169th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
His NHL career includes a 2018-19 season with Arizona that set personal highs: 16 goals, 23 assists and 39 points in 72 games. Hinostroza also has a record of play at the AHL level across several clubs, and team material notes AHL All-Star nods in multiple seasons. Before turning pro he recorded 76 points in 76 games at the University of Notre Dame and later represented the United States on the international stage at the 2016 IIHF World Championship and the 2014 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship.
What’s next for Vinnie Hinostroza
With the transaction complete, the immediate questions are roster placement and usage. The Panthers now have a veteran forward under contract through 2025-26 to deploy as the coaching staff sees fit; the club will determine line assignments and minutes as it integrates the new addition. For the Wild, the move created the roster flexibility needed after recent inbound trades that shifted their forward group.
Expect the Florida organization to announce further roster moves and deployment plans in the days ahead as it prepares for upcoming games. The club’s handling of vinnie hinostroza — from practice availability to game-night role — will be the next development to watch following Friday’s (ET) transaction.
