Minnesota Wild Injury Updates – Mostly Good News on Kaprizov, Spurgeon and Middleton
The Minnesota Wild took home a huge 4-3 shootout win on Thursday night vs the Washington Capitals. It was yet another impressive performance for a team that is missing many of their best players, including superstar Kirill Kaprizov.
But on Thursday evening, before the Wild dropped the puck against the Caps, president of hockey operations Bill Guerin gave an update on all of the team’s biggest injuries. Let’ start with Kaprizov, who hasn’t played since December 23, when he suffered what Guerin would not confirm as a groin strain.
Minnesota Wild injury updates: Kirill Kaprizov day-to-day
All Billy would tell Wild reporters tonight is that Kirill’s injury is of the day-to-day variety, which makes sense since the Wild backdated his stay on injured reserve to before Christmas, meaning he can be removed any time.
Billy’s update on the Wild superstar wasn’t all positive, though. He still seems uncertain on how long Kirill Kaprizov will be out of the lineup, or how bad the injury really is. Nonetheless, it appears his extended absence is mostly out of precaution.
“We’re just still trying to work through what he has. The thing is that we don’t want him to come back and push through. He could, but it could make something worse. We need him for the long haul. We don’t just need him for a couple games in January.
Bill Guerin on Kirill Kaprizov’s injury – via The Athletic
As of Thursday night, Kirill Kaprizov still held the 2nd best odds for 2024-25 MVP (Hart). In 34 games prior to his injury, the 27-year-old Russian had just reached 50 points on the season (23 goals, 27 assists).
We also got updates on two injured Minnesota Wild defensemen on Thursday. Jake Middleton is trying to return from a shattered finger. According to Michael Russo (The Athletic), he has resumed skating and handling his stick, but has not returned to practice yet.
Jared Spurgeon, Jake Middleton good news
Jared Spurgeon got some good results back from his MRI. Guerin is not happy about the hit that injured the Wild captain, but the president of hockey operations labeled the injury “week-to-week”, which came off as positive news, compared to what they expected.
Bill Guerin told reporters Thursday night in the bowels of Capital One Arena that Spurgeon’s injury isn’t as bad as the team originally thought. “But it’s still bad enough because he’s not in our lineup,” Guerin said. “And obviously, that’s not great for our team.” Guerin listed the Wild captain as week to week, but he later said the team hopes to get Spurgeon back in two to three weeks.
Michael Russo – The Athletic
Prior to his injury, Middleton was enjoying the best season of his career, and playing like one of the best defenseman on the Minnesota Wild roster. Many forget that “Middsy” is only 29. And newly turned, too. Today is his birthday.
Related: Marco Rossi Just Keeps Getting Better… and the Minnesota Wild Need Him Desperately
In 29 games this season, Middleton has 5 goals and 8 assists. He posted 25 points last season, the highest of his career. It’s never good when your captain, and arguably best defender, is on the shelf. But it was very good to hear that the Wild got good news back on his tests yesterday. Two to three weeks is a lot better than two to three months.
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