Wild Recall Top Prospect to Replace Mats Zuccarello Under(carriage) Emergency Conditions

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Liam Ohgren, Mats Zuccarello - Minnesota Wild
Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

The (11-2-3) Minnesota Wild will play against the (10-5-0) Dallas Stars on Saturday, in a Central Division battle that may prove rather important later this season, should both teams remain near the top of the Western Conference. On Friday evening, the Wild called up star prospect Liam Ohgren, from AHL Iowa, to replace Mats Zuccarello.

Minnesota Wild recall Liam Ohgren to replace Mats Zuccarello

Minnesota’s No. 1 overall prospect, according to NHL.com, is being called up “under emergency conditions”, after Zuccarello took a slap shot to the undercarriage on Thursday, during Minnesota’s latest win vs the Montreal Canadiens.

I’ve embedded the video of Mats Zuccarello’s unfortunate testicular incident at the bottom of this article. For Minnesota Wild fans, especially men, think before you scroll down. I watched it for you, because it’s my job, but you don’t have to. Zuccarello underwent surgery for said “lower body injury” recently, and he will miss 3 to 4 weeks.

Ohgren gets his 2nd 2024 shot in the NHL

Replacing Zuccarello will be Liam Ohgren, the Wild’s first round pick in 2022 (no. 19 overall). In all likelihood, we will see a lot of the organization’s top prospect on Saturday vs the Stars, and for the next month.

The emergency exception used by the Wild to recall Ohgren allows them to exceed the salary cap with his services, until Zuccarello returns. The last time Ohgren was on the ice, he scored a hat trick for the Iowa Wild vs the Rockford IceHogs.

Ohgren made the Minnesota Wild roster, out of training camp. Unfortunately, he averaged just 9.5 minutes of ice time during his 7 games with the NHL club. The 20-year-old Swed used those limited minutes earlier this season to score 0 goals and collect 0 assists (-2 +/-).

Related: Rumor: Minnesota Wild Have New Partner for Renamed Xcel Energy Center

I can’t imagine head coach John Hynes and president of hockey operations Bill Guerin would call Ohgren up, especially after a breakout hat trick game in Iowa earlier this week, just so he can collect minutes on the bench in St. Paul with the 4th line.

“Under emergency conditions”

Anyway, as promised… here is the video of Mats Zuccarello injury. Reminder: I tried to warn you.

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