Wild acquire Jost from Avalanche for Sturm

The Minnesota Wild traded forward Nico Sturm to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Tyson Jost, both teams announced Tuesday.

Sturm, 26, has nine goals and eight assists in 53 contests this season, matching his point total from last season in three fewer games. The physical, 6-foot-3 center logged 61 hits while averaging 11 minutes per game this campaign.

The German can be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and carries a cap hit of $725,000. He has 36 points in 111 career NHL matchups and has performed well in fourth-line minutes.

"Nico is a big, strong forward who also brings a heavy defensive presence," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. "He is a defensive-minded center who can chip in offensively, is good on draws, and can contribute on the penalty kill."

Jost has six goals and eight helpers in 59 games but registered just one goal and two assists in his last 25 contests. Drafted by the Avalanche with the 10th overall pick in 2016, he has one season remaining on a two-year, $4-million deal. Jost has 103 career points in 321 NHL games.

The 24-year-old is expected to make his Wild debut Wednesday against the Boston Bruins, per The Athletic's Michael Russo.

Colorado created $1.275 million in cap space thanks to the swap, according to CapFriendly.

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