Kunin, Eriksson Ek hope to make the most of Iowa assignment

During the NHL's All-Star break, Wild.com's Dan Myers has joined Minnesota's American Hockey League affiliate, the Iowa Wild, on a two-game road trip, sharing stories from inside the organization's minor-league team.
MILWAUKEE -- A lot can change in the span of an eight-day break. And while nothing is settled when it comes to the makeup of the Wild's roster once it returns from the All-Star break and its League-mandated bye week, it's not outrageous to believe that just one of Luke Kunin or Joel Eriksson Ek will return to the big league club.
Both Kunin and Eriksson Ek were
assigned to the Iowa Wild
on Thursday as Minnesota began an extended layoff. The main reason: The team wants both playing regular minutes and continuing to build their games.

Each has carved out a niche in recent games with Minnesota, with Kunin seeing some power-play time and both players getting minutes on the penalty kill.
But with Eric Fehr practicing in the days before the break and potentially ready to return from a lower-body injury when the Wild is next in action on Feb. 1, there will be a roster crunch.
If Fehr does indeed return from injured reserve, there could be room for just one of Eriksson Ek or Kunin.
In fact, the Wild's claim of defenseman Anthony Bitetto on Friday could put the immediate return of both players in jeopardy. With Fehr re-joining the roster -- whenever it happens -- and no other moves being made, Minnesota is at the maximum of 23 players.
Regardless of what happens with the roster, both Eriksson Ek and Kunin said they are looking forward to making the most of their present stretch in Iowa, however long it lasts.
"I think I had some good games [in Minnesota] at the end there," Eriksson Ek said. "I'm just gonna try to play good here and help the team as best I can.
"Everyone is pushing for a spot up there and it's a competition for spots. You have to be at your best every night."
Kunin has said all along that he wants to be in Minnesota, and has positioned himself nicely by being able to play in nearly every role.
At times over the past couple of weeks, he's played both special teams. He's played on the top line with Eric Staal and he's played with Eriksson Ek on the fourth line.

"I think that's one of my strengths is the versatility in my game," Kunin said. "I think, if anything, that helps me, being able to play up and down the lineup like that. I view that as a positive thing, and I hope management] does as well."
Ultimately, neither player has much say in what happens with the pending roster crunch, or if there will be one at all. Wild General Manager Paul Fenton has made three trades in the past two weeks and claimed another player on waivers.
Circumstances are constantly changing and evolving, and whether it's when the bye week is over or sometime after that, Eriksson Ek and Kunin both know their friendly competition for ice time is far from over.
In the meantime, both hope they can help the Iowa Wild continue its historic season. In doing so, they were slotted on the same line Friday night against the Milwaukee Admirals. They shared the same penalty-killing unit as well.
"I try not to think too much about it," Kunin said. "I'm a hockey player; it's my job to play hockey, whether that's down here or up there. Obviously, my goal is to be up there and that's never going to change. I just want to come down here, play my best and worry about what I can control."
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