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Graovac assigned to AHL, as Wild look for more from fourth line

Tyler Graovac, Sam Reinhart,

Tyler Graovac, Sam Reinhart,

AP

Tyler Graovac has cleared waivers and been assigned to AHL Iowa.

It’s good news for the Minnesota Wild, who didn’t want to lose the 23-year-old center for nothing, even if he had been struggling.

Yesterday, the Wild recalled forwards Zack Mitchell and Alex Tuch, with GM Chuck Fletcher saying the team needs more out of its fourth line, which had been comprised of Graovac, Jordan Schroeder, and Chris Stewart.

“A fourth line like that, they can’t play the way that they have been playing,” Fletcher said, per the Star Tribune. “They have to win more battles and turn fewer pucks over. That’s not a recipe for success. It’s not all Graovac certainly. I think all three of them have slipped in the last couple weeks and we have to try to get a better recipe for what we want to do with that line.”

Tonight against Anaheim, the fourth line will be centered by Erik Haula, flanked by Stewart and Mitchell. Schroeder is expected to be a healthy scratch.

Tuch, meanwhile, will skate on the top line with Nino Niederreiter and Eric Staal, and Charlie Coyle will center the third line between Zach Parise and Jason Pominville.