Wild release Steckel from PTO

The Minnesota Wild on Friday released center David Steckel from his professional tryout agreement. The 31-year-old appeared in two preseason games with the Wild.

Steckel, one of the NHL's best faceoff men, was trying to win a job on a team with established centers Mikko Koivu, Kyle Brodziak and Zenon Konopka, with Brodziak and Konopka penciled in on the third and fourth lines.

Minnesota also recalled goaltender Johan Gustafsson from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League. The 21-year-old was Minnesota's sixth-round pick (No. 159) in the 2010 NHL Draft. He spent last season with Lulea of the Swedish Elite League and went 20-13-0 with a 1.70 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.