Hartman and Hinostroza have been friends since they were 8 years old: "We both went our own ways for a while, and now we’re back together."

The childhood buddies are playing together after Hartman returned from a suspension and Hinostroza came over in a trade.

Hartman and Hinostroza skated on a line together as members of the Minnesota Wild for the first time on Tuesday night, which marked the second time these childhood friends have skated together in the NHL.

When he looks back on his NHL career someday, Vinnie Hinostroza will surely recall February 2025 as a memorable whirlwind. Early in the month, the forward was prepping for a demotion from the Nashville Predators — where he played 13 games with two assists this season — to their AHL team in Milwaukee when he got diverted one state further west.

Hinostroza scored a power-play goal in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Kraken. That's four goals over eight games as a member of the Wild for Hinostroza, and three of those tallies have come with the man advantage.

Tallies on power play

The Minnesota Wild nearly let the Seattle Kraken back in it after taking a three-goal lead, but they held on for a 4-3 victory Tuesday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Minnesota had just one shot on goal the final period plus of the contest.

Hartman and Hinostroza have been friends since they were 8 years old: "We both went our own ways for a while, and now we’re back together."

The childhood buddies are playing together after Hartman returned from a suspension and Hinostroza came over in a trade.

SEATTLE — There were no “proud parent” social media posts the first time Ryan Hartman and Vinnie Hinostroza played hockey together. Not that their parents weren’t delighted by their on-ice success playing for a Chicago-area mite team when both were 8 years old. It’s just that social media wasn’t what it is now 22 years ago.

Hinostroza scored a power-play goal in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Kraken. That's four goals over eight games as a member of the Wild for Hinostroza, and three of those tallies have come with the man advantage.

It’s so emotional time of the season. Every one matters so much. And every loss sucks even more,” said Wild forward Marco Rossi.