The 27-14-4 Minnesota Wild are off tonight, getting some much needed rest for a roster that has dealt with injury blow, after injury blow for pretty much the entire season. As of now, the Wild’s depth chart and line combinations are missing most of their best defenders, including Brock Faber, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin and their superstar, Kirill Kaprizov.
Yet, with 58 points already in the bag, the Wild remain near the top of the NHL food chain, as they patiently await the return of their best players, which after their latest injury on Wednesday also includes (LW) Marcus Johansson. Thankfully, we finally got some good news on the Minnesota Wild injury front on Friday.
Minnesota Wild injury updates bring good news on Brock Faber, Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon
According to what Michael Russo (The Athletic) witnessed at Tria Rink today, and what was later confirmed by head coach John Hynes, there are so many injured Minnesota Wild players nearing return that the practice ice at Tria Rink Friday felt more like a training camp practice than it did a midseason practice.
The most immediate good news? Newly extended 22-year-old defenseman Brock Faber will return to the lineup on Saturday night against the Nashville Predators, along with 24-year-old forward Jakub Lauko. More good news? Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon practiced Friday, too, and both could return as early as Thursday.
The good news? Defenseman Brock Faber and winger Jakub Lauko will return Saturday night against the Predators.
Star Kirill Kaprizov and captain Jared Spurgeon, who took part in their first full practices since they were hurt last month, did not travel but are expected to skate on their own while the team is gone and practice again next week. Their returns are on the horizon, perhaps as soon as Thursday’s home game against the Utah Hockey Club.
Michael Russo – The Athletic
Return of Wild stars much needed
Getting Brock Faber back will be a sigh of relief for the Minnesota Wild blue line. He has been out since he left a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues in the beginning of the 1st period. In the 3.75 games that Faber — who leads Minnesota in ice time with 24:58 per game — has been out of the lineup, the Wild have given up four or more goals in three of them.
Some good news injury wise for the #MnWild.
— Alec Ausmus (@A_TwiceKSTP) January 17, 2025
Kirill Kaprizov, Brock Faber & Jared Spurgeon were on the ice at practice this morning.
Faber will travel with the team to Nashville and Colorado this weekend and is expected to play.
No travel yet for Kirill and Spurgeon. pic.twitter.com/7OMGdQeuzG
Kirill Kaprizov — who was the favorite to win NHL MVP (Hart) prior to his injury — has now missed 10-straight games, after being injured vs the Chicago Blackhawks on December 23. That number will become 12, after he misses Saturday’s game in Nashville and Monday’s game in Colorado.
- Kirill Kaprizov 2024-25 Stats (23 Games): 23 Goals | 27 Assists | +21 | 22:37 TOI
Today’s Minnesota Wild injury updates didn’t all bring good news. While Faber, Spurgeon and Kaprizov may all be nearing a return, other key players like Jonas Brodin and Marcus Johansson have no started skating yet, meaning their returns are not close.