Former Miami RedHawk Jarod Palmer is likely to make his NHL debut tonight when the Minnesota Wild host the New York Islanders in St. Paul.

Palmer, who was signed following the completion of the 2010 season as an undrafted free agent has spent parts of the last two seasons playing for the Wild’s AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, where he has registered 13-25-38 and an impressive +20 in 91 career games.

This is tremendous news because obviously Palmer holds a special place in the hearts of RedHawk fans as he was so instrumental in leading Miami to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Frozen Four in 2009 and 2010.

In his Miami career, Palmer never missed a game recording 137 points (47-90=137) in 169 outings for the Red and White and was an integral part of Miami’s incredibly successful penalty killing unit that dominated opponents. I fondly remember he and Andy Miele working the first PK unit together and literally maintaining possession in the offensive zone, sometimes throughout the kill.

Congratulations Jarod!