Hunt taking advantage of opportunity with Wild ahead of Vegas return

LAS VEGAS -- Much has changed for Wild defenseman Brad Hunt both on and off the ice as he prepares to take on his former teammates Friday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Hunt, of course, began the season as a Vegas Golden Knight, and was on the roster until minutes after the Wild secured a 4-2 win over Vegas on Jan. 21.
After the game, the Wild bussed across Las Vegas Boulevard to McCarran International Airport, where it prepped to fly to Denver.

On the bus ride over, word filtered out that Minnesota had acquired Hunt in a trade where the Wild and Golden Knights essentially swapped draft picks, with Vegas taking Minnesota's fifth rounder this season and the Wild getting Hunt and the Golden Knights' sixth-round selection.
Hunt, affable and seemingly always smiling, joined the team in Colorado the next day and made his Wild debut two nights later in a 5-2 win against the Avalanche.

It was quite the opportunity for Hunt, who had a tough time cracking the lineup in Vegas, spending a bulk of this season as the team's eighth defenseman. Hunt suited up in just 13 games in three months with the Golden Knights and had played in just five games since Nov. 12 when the trade was made.
Since joining the Wild, Hunt has suited up in 24 games, including every one of the past 20 contests, getting an opportunity for the first time in his NHL career to be in the lineup on an every-night basis.
"It's really cool, it's something I've worked hard for for a really long time," Hunt said. "You pay your dues and no matter what, be a good teammate and have a positive attitude. I think that's what has helped me stick around for a long time."
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Hunt broke in with Edmonton during the 2013-14 season, playing in three games with the Oilers. He played in 11 games with Edmonton in 2014-15 and seven more in 2015-16 before playing 12 games combined with Nashville and St. Louis in 2016-17.
His first real crack in the NHL came in Vegas last year when he skated in 45 games with the Golden Knights and posted solid numbers, scoring three goals and 18 points, including 12 on the power play.
Four of his seven points with Vegas this season also came on the man advantage, which earned him a spot on the Wild's power play from day one.
He's even earned the nickname "power-play specialist" from Wild coach Bruce Boudreau, as 23 of his 39 career points have come with the extra attacker.

"As he's become a regular on our team, he's become better and better," Boudreau said. "I like his progress, I like what he's doing and I like his compete and that's really good."
Off the ice, Hunt and his wife, Katie -- a Grand Rapids native -- have settled in nicely. The couple welcomed their first child on Wednesday, a boy they named Colby Gordon.
When Hunt was acquired by the Wild, he was excited about the prospect of his son being born in Minnesota, where his wife has family and he has roots following a stellar four-year college career at Bemidji State.
"Everybody is healthy and it was a really, really incredible experience," Hunt said. "Just to see life happen ... it was something that was really special."
Hunt, who looks back fondly on his time with the Golden Knights, was a little lucky he'll get to return with this Wild this weekend.
Colby wasn't due to arrive until April 11, but came a few weeks earlier than expected.
"Woke up and my wife said, 'Hey, we gotta go to the hospital,'" Hunt said. "So you get in the car and you go."
Hunt missed practice Wednesday but was back with the team skating at TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center on Thursday.
He says he's eager to get back and see some old teammates on Friday night.
"It's gonna be special to go back but I'm really happy I'm with the Minnesota Wild," Hunt said. "It's been an incredible experience."
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