Minnesota Wild Players Relieved to Get Two Top-Line Teammates Back in Lineup
The Minnesota Wild are playing the 2nd night of a back to back, this evening vs the Vegas Golden Knights, and it is expected to be the 2nd straight game where the Wild look a lot healthier on both ends of the ice.
On Saturday afternoon, Minnesota dismantled the Philadelphia Flyers, at Xcel Energy Center, in no small part due to the return of forward Mats Zuccarello and defenseman Jonas Brodin, who both returned for their first game back from injured reserve. Was there rust? Not really.
Minnesota Wild very happy to have Mats Zuccarello and Jonas Brodin back
Zuccarello slid seamlessly back in, next to his best friend, Kirill Kaprizov, who has been in a noticeably better mood since hearing that Zuccy had started skating again, and was nearing a return. Sometimes I really do wonder whether or not Mats’ recent extension was more about Kaprizov than it was Zuccarello.
Marcus Foligno said Kaprizov’s mood instantly changed in Salt Lake City earlier this week when he heard Zuccarello — his mentor, best friend and favorite linemate — had begun skating.
“I’m not going to lie, he wasn’t the happiest (the last month),” Foligno said. “Then he heard Zuccy was skating and he was like a creaky little kid on Christmas morning.”
The Athletic
Remember, Kirill Kaprizov is in the middle of contract negotiations with the Minnesota Wild, who have all but conceded publicly that they will do anything and everything to get him back. That includes financially and personally.
If that means keeping Mats Zuccarello on Kirill’s line until his now 37-year-old best friend needs a chair to skate, then so be it. And the way Marcus Foligno describes the relationship between Zuccarello and Kaprizov, that promise could very well keep the Russian superstar in St. Paul for the long haul.
Related: Minnesota Wild Reveal Bad News Injury Update on Jake Middleton
In 17 games this season, Zuccarello has scored 6 goals and assisted on 9 more. He’s averaging 17:15 TOI, with a +6 gal differential. After struggling in his first two seasons with the Wild from 2019-2021, the Norwegian left wing has bounced back with three of the best seasons of his very productive career, scoring 79 points (70 games) in 2021-22, 67 points (78 games) in 2022-23 and 63 points last season (69 games).
Zuccarello to Rossi 3-0 🚨 it’s so nice to have Zuccy back #mnwild pic.twitter.com/a2LWZZOjPT
— Wild Takes (@WildTakes10k) December 14, 2024
Brodin and Zuccarello welcomed back with open arms
On the other end of the ice, the Wild got Jonas Brodin back at the top of their defensive pairings, where he belongs. Clearly, the Minnesota Wild are very happy to have their guys back. Especially after Jake Middleton went on injured reserve a couple days ago.
“Jimmy and Zuccy made a heck of a difference tonight, holy smokes. Brodes, I mean, it’s a different game back there. It’s so easy for him back there and it’s so much easier when he’s in the lineup. He breaks us out a lot of times, just his sticks and gaps, you know?”
“Zuccy is just dynamic, right? He gets Kirill open. Kirill is more of the receiver, and not having to be the disher as much, and it just adds another dynamic offensively to our team.”
Marcus Foligno (via The Athletic)
Jonas Brodin was drafted by the Minnesota Wild No. 10 overall in 2011. By the 2012-13 season, the Swedish defensive savant was playing 23 minutes per game, and he has been a staple at the top of the Wild’s defensive pairings ever since.
what a play by Jonas Brodin pic.twitter.com/jQBlNQ2GA0
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) November 6, 2024
Now 31-years-old, Brodin is a baby blanket for Bill Guerin and head coach John Hynes, and they team felt that comfort back on the ice Saturday, and they will again this evening, when they play the Golden Knights. Prior to his injury, Jonas Brodin was on an offensive roll unlike anything we’ve really seen from him during his NHL career.
Related: Top Prospect Jesper Wallstedt Recalled by Minnesota Wild Amid Goalie Injury Concern
With 9 (2 goals, 7 assists) points in 20 games, Brodin is still on pace to reach 30 points for just the second time of his career. In fact, should he stay on the ice the rest of the season, Jonas Brodin should surpass 30 points for the first time ever. The only time Brodin has reached 30 points was 2021-22, when he scored 5 goals and recorded 25 assists.
Brodin’s injury is one he’ll need to monitor for the rest of the season. Asked if he’s confident this is behind him, he said, “I hope it’s gonna be good. It’s been bugging me a little bit, but it’s fine. I feel good now, so hopefully it stays like that.”
Michael Russo – The Athletic
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