The Minnesota Wild ended their brutal streak of six-straight games without a win in regulation on Monday night, with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Their only other points during this depressing span came in a 2-1 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche last Wednesday.

Of course the Wild have more legitimate injury excuses for their recent ride on the struggle bus than any other team in the NHL. They’re missing the best center on their team, who doubles as the heart and soul of the locker room, in Joel Eriksson Ek.

They’ve also been without one of the best and most consistent defensemen in the NHL over the past decade, in Jonas Brodin, who has been out of the lineup since February 28, with a lower-body injury.

Then, of course, there’s the injury to superstar Kirill Kaprizov. His lower-body injury has kept him out of the Wild lineup for all but four games, since December 23. But the hockey gods refuse to give the Minnesota Wild a break on the injury front.

Marcus Foligno joins devastating list of Wild injuries

Late Monday afternoon, just before their game against the Kings, the Wild PR account on X announced the news that the Wild’s other assistant captain, Marcus Foligno, would miss tonight’s Western Conference showdown with an upper-body injury.

Injury Update: #mnwild forward Marcus Foligno (upper body) will not play tonight.

— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) March 17, 2025

It’s difficult to be surprised by any Minnesota Wild injury news, at this point in the season. Reporters arriving for morning skate or for warm-ups, just to have a random player not be on the ice, has become pretty much commonplace at TRIA Rink and Xcel Energy Center this season.

On the season, Marcus Foligno has 11 goals and 11 assists in 67 games played. Outside of this injury, he’s been one of the most reliable players on roster, when it comes to availability. Still, Foligno has been a far cry from the player he was in 2022-23, when he scored a career-high 42 points (23 goals), which earned him a contract extension that offseason that he has yet to live up to.

Update on other Minnesota Wild injuries

After a brief four-game return to the lineup at the end of January, Kirill Kaprizov left for good on January 26, and has yet to return. The 27-year-old Russian phenom then underwent surgery on his lower-body injury, and has yet to resume skating.

Related: Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline

The Minnesota Wild are 8-8-1 since their superstar last saw the ice, including losses in 7 of their last 10 games. Joel Eriksson Ek’s most recent injury updates haven’t been of the positive variety either, as he too has yet to start skating.

Thankfully, Jonas Brodin has been on the ice working out individually for the past week or more and his return — according to Michael Russo (The Athletic) — is imminent, maybe even this week.

More must-reads:

• Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline
• Minnesota Wild Trade for 27-Year-Old Forward Upgrade
• With Stars Expected Back, MN Wild Preparing for Underwhelming NHL Trade Deadline

The 36-22-4 Minnesota Wild return to the ice on Friday night in Vancouver vs the Canucks. But earlier in the day, they remained silent as a mouse on Christmas Eve, leading up to the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

Sure, president of hockey operations Bill Guerin could be found wheeling and dealing throughout the last week. First, this time last Friday, the Wild trading away future draft capital to the Nashville Predators for semi-familiar forward Gustav Nyquist.

Then Thursday, Minnesota traded away 22 y/o center Marat Khusnutdinov and 24 y/o wing Jakub Lauko to the Boston Bruins for 27 y/o wing Justin Brazeau. But as other top contenders in the Western Conference were getting better on Friday, Guerin watched and sat on his hands.

Colorado Avalanche leave Minnesota Wild in the dust at NHL Trade Deadline

One of the most active teams at the NHL trade deadline this afternoon was Wild division rival, the Colorado Avalanche. They spent Friday swapping out multiple forwards, while also making upgrades on the blue line. The flurry of activity in Colorado today started right as the calendar was flipping from Thursday to Friday.

Across the hockey world, NHL fans woke up to notifications that the Avs had traded away 20 y/o top prospect Calum Ritchie and 27 y/o defenseman Oliver Kylington — along with a future 1st and 3rd round draft pick — to the New York Islanders, in exchange for 33 y/o Warroad native Brock Nelson and 23 y/o forward William Dufour, a top 10 prospect in the Avs system.

Brock Nelson is off to Denver!! 🏔️ #NHLTradeDeadline pic.twitter.com/GOQifR6gYd

— NHL (@NHL) March 7, 2025

The move for Nelson felt like a direct shot across the bow at their division rival, the Minnesota Wild. Remember, Michael Russo (The Athletic) and others around the league have been reporting on the Wild’s interest in bringing Nelson home ASAP, whether it happened via deadline trade or when he becomes a free agent this offseason.

Now that Nelson is on the roster of their biggest division rival, is it less likely that Brock returns to Minnesota and plays for his home state Wild next season? Only Brock Nelson and those around him can answer that question, but it certainly doesn’t make his homecoming more likely.

Avalanche brass can’t get Minnesota off their brain at trade deadline…

But the Colorado Avalanche were far from finished dealing, after they landed Nelson in the wee hours of Friday morning. This afternoon, the Avs must’ve realized they had too much Minnesota blood on their roster, after the Nelson acquisition.

Thus, the Wild’s top rival traded decided to trade 26 y/o Eden Prairie native, Casey Mittelstadt, to the Boston Bruins. Of course, the Minnesota Wild connections didn’t end there. In return for Mittelstadt, the Avalanche received 33 y/o former Wild fan favorite Charlie Coyle, who played the first 479 games of his NHL career in Minnesota.

We have acquired Charlie Coyle and a 2026 pick from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt, William Zellers, and a 2025 pick. pic.twitter.com/yNozSyN2SS

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 7, 2025

I’m not trying to sound like the late, great Billy Mays selling you Oxyclean when you wake up with the TV on at 3 a.m. with this article… “but wait, there’s more!” No seriously, the Minnesota obsession in Colorado did not stop after the Mittelstadt for Coyle trade.

Related: MN Wild Forward Named Breakout Star to Watch at 2026 Olympics

Moments after that deal went final, the Avs must’ve felt regret for trading away one of the Minnesotans on the roster, because they immediately turned around and acquired another one from the Philadelphia Flyers, this time trading for Bloomington-born and MN raised, Erik Johnson, a 36-year-old defenseman who returns to Colorado, where he spent the best years of his career from 2010 to 2023.

We have acquired Erik Johnson from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Givani Smith. pic.twitter.com/eLpTLJforp

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 7, 2025

Look, I understand that there are a lot of Minnesota-born players in the NHL, but there was a different level of interest from the Avalanche today, in acquiring and dealing away guys with ties to the state of hockey. Even while Bill Guerin stayed quiet at the deadline, we were all up in the brain of those running the Avs front office at the deadline.

More must-reads:

• Stack Another Key MN Wild Injury on Top of the 2024-25 Pile
• Minnesota Wild Trade for 27-Year-Old Forward Upgrade
• With Stars Expected Back, MN Wild Preparing for Underwhelming NHL Trade Deadline

The 36-22-4 Minnesota Wild tried to play coy this week, when asked about their plans for the 2025 NHL trade deadline. They told reporters that superstar Kirill Kaprizov and top center Joel Eriksson Ek are expected to return by the end of the regular season.

That was supposed to mean president of hockey operations Bill Guerin wouldn’t be alloted any additional cap space to make much of an impact before Friday’s deadline. That, of course, was after the Wild traded for familiar face, Gustav Nyquist.

Minnesota Wild trade away Khusnutdinov, Lauko to Bruins for Justin Brazeau

Now, just a few days later, Billy has found yet another way to wheel and deal, despite Minnesota’s tight cap situation. This time, he has dealt away two forwards — Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko — to the Boston Bruins in exchange for 27-year-old Canadian winger Justin Brazeau.

Brazeau has 10 goals, 20 points and 89 hits on the season, in rather limited ice time (12:58 TOI). He’s a big body forward who will immediately provide a presence in front of the net, until Eriksson Ek returns. The trade was first broken by Kevin Weekes (ESPN, NHL Network), who got the scoop fresh out of surgery.

**Breaking News** 🚨 📰
I’m told @mnwild are trading F Khusnutdinov and F Lauko to the @NHLBruins . #HockeyX
Side note, fresh outta surgery so I’m not that sharp LOL 😂 pic.twitter.com/Iixv4SXynn

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) March 7, 2025

For the amount of time on ice that Justin Brazeau receives on a nightly basis, his statistics this season are really impressive. He averages 3rd line minutes, but ranks top seven on the Bruins in goals and top 10 in both assists and points. The 6’6″, 227 lb former OHL North Bay Battalion star also played 86.2 minutes on the power play for Boston this season, where he scored four of his 10 goals on the year.

Related: With Stars Expected Back, MN Wild Preparing for Underwhelming NHL Trade Deadline

Brazeau was the only skater for Boston who scored more than ten goals but averaged less than 17.5 minutes of ice time per game. Our old friend Charlie Coyle is next down that list, with 17:38 average TOI (15 goals). No doubt Justin Brazeau represents a type of NHL talent that neither Khusnutdinov nor Lauko provided at this point in their careers.

113 points in 68 games for the OHL’s North Bay Battalion in 2018-2019 btw…and wore the “C”

The Justin Brazeau Experience #NHLBruins | @BruinSomethin pic.twitter.com/829wOTib7z

— Michael Sullivan (@_MikeSullivan) May 7, 2024

Justin Brazeau converts on the power play.

1-0 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/n0MZ8Ajmya

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 24, 2024

More must-reads:

• Stack Another Key MN Wild Injury on Top of the 2024-25 Pile
• Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline
• With Stars Expected Back, MN Wild Preparing for Underwhelming NHL Trade Deadline

The Minnesota Wild are back on the ice Tuesday night @ the Seattle Kraken. Still up two points on the Avalanche in the Central, the Wild are out on the West Coast trying to start their first winning streak since the 4 Nations Face-Off.

After Sunday’s 1-0 win, the MN Wild are now 2-3 since the break, as they try their best to keep the 2024-25 ship afloat, as they await the return of superstar Kirill Kaprizov from the lower-body injury.

Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek expected back for Wild

According to the most recent reports out of The Athletic, the MN Wild are expecting Kaprizov back from Long Term Injured Reserve before the end of the regular season. In addition, they believe the injury Joel Eriksson Ek suffered in practice last week will not require LTIR.

Kirill Kaprizov is expected to be activated off long-term injured reserve before the end of the season, and the Wild hope to avoid putting Eriksson Ek on LTIR, so general manager Bill Guerin won’t have unlimited — or any — cap space in advance of Friday’s NHL trade deadline. That means anything done the rest of the week must be a “penny in, penny out” hockey trade.

The Athletic

This is all very good news for president of hockey operations Bill Guerin, head coach John Hynes and the rest of the Wild organization. Not only was Kirill Kaprizov leading the Minnesota Wild in both goals and assists, when he exited the lineup for the first time, right before Christmas, but he was a betting favorite to win the Hart Trophy.

Related: Minnesota Wild Trade for Semi-Familiar Face

On the season, Kaprizov has totaled 23 goals, which still leads the team, even after missing 24 games. His 29 assists rank third, behind only Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi. Kirill’s 52 points are tied with Matt Boldy for most on the team too. And let’s not discount the eventual return of Joel Eriksson Ek, either.

Minnesota Wild looking at a quiet NHL trade deadline

Ek is the heart and soul of the Minnesota Wild, and a constant nuisance for opponents. But the return of these two stars also means that Bill Guerin & Co will probably remain rather quiet at the upcoming NHL trade deadline, according to The Athletic, especially after dealing for Gustav Nyquist last week.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild are likely done making moves by Friday’s trade deadline. They’ve got no cap space, especially after Saturday’s deal for Gustav Nyquist. So unless there’s a legitimate hockey trade — dollar in, dollar out — to be made, it could be a pretty boring rest of the week.

Joe Smith – The Athletic

More must-reads:

• Stack Another Key MN Wild Injury on Top of the 2024-25 Pile
• Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline
• Minnesota Wild Trade for 27-Year-Old Forward Upgrade

The Minnesota Wild took another L on Friday night, this time at the hands of division rival, Colorado, who has now supplanted them as one of the three Central teams who are guaranteed a spot in the 2025 NHL Playoffs.

It was the Wild’s third-straight loss. Their only win, since the 4 Nations Face-Off, came on the first game back after the break — a 4-3 comeback victory over the Detroit Red Wings that required a miraculous comeback from down 3-0 deep into the third period.

In other words, win or lose, this team has been skating uphill since the 4 Nations break ended. Coincidentally, that’s the same time news broke that Kaprizov is in danger of missing the rest of the season with a surgically repaired lower body injury he has been dealing with since Christmas.

That’s why it’s difficult to be all that frustrated by this skid. Winning was difficult back in November/December, when key players were cycling in and out of the lineup AROUND superstar Kirill Kaprizov. Even with the likes of Jonas Brodin, Jared Spurgeon, Brock Faber and Eriksson Ek (the first time around) Kaprizov’s MVP-caliber play lifted everyone around him.

Minnesota Wild re-upping for 2nd Rental of Gustav Nyquist…?

Then last week, top center Joel Eriksson Ek suffered an injury during practice, forcing the Wild to place him on IR right next to Kaprizov. As of Saturday, we still do not know whether either player will return in time for the NHL Playoffs.

While they wait on more Kaprizov/Ek updates, Wild president of hockey operations Bill Guerin has been out snooping around the trade market, prior to the NHL trade deadline on March 7. And on Saturday afternoon, a few hours after Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic) originally reported the deal was close, a trade for 35-year-old Swedish winger Gustav Nyquist was made official.

#mnwild trade their 2026 second, and Preds retain half of the rest of the AAV https://t.co/lxHat5SGS9

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 1, 2025

If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Nyquist had his first cup-of-coffee in Minnesota as a trade rental back in 2022-23. Back then, he was acquired while recovering from an injury, which kept him out until the very end of the regular season.

Because of that injury, the University of Maine alum played only nine total games in a Wild sweater (three regular season + six playoff games) his first time in Minnesota. But even fresh off an injury that caused Nyquist to miss nearly half of that 2022-23 season, the 13-year NHL veteran played incredibly well once he got on the ice.

In those nine games, Gustav Nyquist posted 10 total points (1 goal, 9 assists), including a team-leading five assists during Minnesota’s Wildcard playoff series loss vs the Dallas Stars.

NHL Video Highlight – R1, Gm2: Frederick Gaudreau gets Gustav Nyquist's pass, comes in all alone and scores on the backhand to make it 4-3 in the 2nd period. pic.twitter.com/llItgiSiOP

— Wild Game Bot (@MNWild_Game_Bot) April 20, 2023

Gustav Nyquist + MN Wild – Part II

This time around, the University of Maine alum — who has 9 goals and 21 total points (17:39 TOI), in 57 games with Nashville this season — is again due for unrestricted free agency in the offseason, meaning this could be another short-term stint with the Wild. That doesn’t scare either side, however, probably since

Originally, there was some red tape holding up this deal from being finalized, and it was probably money. Because when the deal finally became official, the Preds retained half of Nyquist’s salary for the rest of this season.

Nashville and Minnesota are talking about a potential Gustav Nyquist trade, per sources, which is why he's being held out today. But the trade is still not done. Could be a complication. Let's see where it goes.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 1, 2025

As of late Saturday morning, league sources told The Athletic that multiple teams were still pursuing Nyquist. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported there was a complication holding up a deal with the Wild.

Michael Russo and Joe Smith – The Athletic

Gustav Nyquist was originally selected by the Detroit Red Wings, in the 4th round (No. 121 overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft. The rest, as you would say, is history. 841 games later, Nyquist has racked up 207 NHL goals and 317 assists (524 points).

Even late into his career, Nyquist will immediately help the Minnesota Wild on special teams, where they have struggled all season long. Expect him to be featured on the penalty kill, for sure, and likely on the power play too.

Minnesota Wild waiting for injury timelines of Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek

Whether or not Eriksson Ek and/or Kirill Kaprizov plan to return this season will make the difference for Bill Guerin & Co at the NHL trade deadline. If they are able to return in time for the postseason, the Wild will be mostly quiet for the next week.

Related: Wild Recall Former First Round Forward

But if either/both end up on Long Term Injured Reserve, the Minnesota Wild will could receive as much as $15 million in additional cap space ($10M for Kaprizov, $5M for Eriksson Ek) that they can use to acquire talent before the NHL trade deadline on March 7.

More must-reads:

• Stack Another Key MN Wild Injury on Top of the 2024-25 Pile
• Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline
• Minnesota Wild Trade for 27-Year-Old Forward Upgrade

The most consistent problem for the Minnesota Wild this season has been their inability to stay healthy. Entering Thursday’s matchup in Utah, the Wild are missing superstar Kirill Kaprizov, who is out for the foreseeable future with a lower body injury that required surgery, and forward Joel Eriksson Ek, who recently landed on injured reserve right next to Kaprizov.

Through all of the injuries, the Wild have continued to win and stay very much alive in the Western Conference playoff conversation. They’ve done so, in part thanks to successful call ups from Iowa. On Thursday, president of hockey operations Bill Guerin recalled yet another forward prospect to fill in while the Wild wait to see when/if Kaprizov and Ek will be able to return.

Brendan Gaunce back to the Minnesota Wild

The lucky forward who received the call this time around is former first round NHL Draft pick Brendan Gaunce, who was selected with the 26th overall pick back in 2012. Now 30 years old, with 182 NHL games under his belt, this will be Gauce’s 6th appearance on the season in Minnesota, his first in a Wild sweater.

#mnwild recall Brendan Gaunce to be their extra forward on two-game trip

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 27, 2025

In his five games on the active roster this season, Brendan Gaunce is averaging 9:29 time on ice. He has yet to record a point, and has only put four of his 11 shots on goal. In his 9-year NHL career, the Ontario, CA native has scored 13 goals and accumulated 28 total points.

Related: Minnesota Wild Trade Aging Defense Prospect for Kings Forward

In 35 games for the Iowa Wild this season, Gaunce has potted 15 goals and assisted on 14 more (29 points). His plus-minus is an unfortunate -15, but the former Belleville Bull has poured in a trio of game winning goals down on the farm, as well.

Brendan Gaunce closed out 2024 with his second hat trick of the season. 🎩@IAWild pic.twitter.com/G5bldpXDFc

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) January 1, 2025

The Wild will be looking to bounce back from their loss against the Detroit Red Wings in their last time out. After a 2-0 lead they gave up three straight and dropped the game by a 3-2 tally. Minnesota’s 72 points have them third in the Central Division of the Western Conference.

More must-reads:

• Stack Another Key MN Wild Injury on Top of the 2024-25 Pile
• Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline
• Minnesota Wild Trade for 27-Year-Old Forward Upgrade

The Minnesota Wild will be back in action on Thursday night when they travel West to take on the Utah Hockey Club. They’ll do so without Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov, who are both on injured reserve, and Ryan Hartman, who is serving an eight game suspension.

With the NHL trade deadline (March 7) approaching fast, president of hockey operations Bill Guerin is trying to figure out how aggressive he will be able to act, over the course of the next week. I say that because it’s not really up to him.

If healthy, the Wild don’t have enough money to do anything all that significant before the deadline. Not unless they want to blow up their roster, which is unlikely. However, should Kaprizov and/or Eriksson Ek land on Long Term Injured Reserve, Minnesota would be rewarded enough money to do pretty much whatever they want.

Minnesota Wild trade (D) Joseph Cecconi to Kings for (F) Tyler Madden

But for now, any trades that the Minnesota Wild can make are expected to be of the quieter variety. Like the one that was completed on Wednesday evening, when Guerin shipped off 28-year-old Iowa Wild defenseman Joseph Cecconi to the Los Angeles Kings for 25-year-old forward prospect Tyler Madden.

Trade: #mnwild acquire F Tyler Madden from the #GoKingsGo for D Joseph Cecconi

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) February 27, 2025

Tyler Madden — whose dad John Madden played 13 years in the NHL, including one season (2010-11) with the Wild — has yet to play a game in the NHL. He has has a pretty productive 5 years in the AHL, though, potting a total of 58 goals and 67 assists (128 points) in 251 games, all with the Ontario Reign (LA Kings).

Related: Minnesota Wild Lose Defenseman to Reclaim

Madden is seen as a heady offensive center who loves to hang out in front of the net and obviously has a ton of NHL pedigree in his blood. For the Minnesota Wild, this seems like a low risk move to add more offensive punch down in Iowa, along with a safe call up to the NHL, if needed. We’ll see if he gets his first opportunity in the league, following this trade. For now, he will play in Iowa.

You know what's better than 1 goal? 2 GOALS!!
Goal by Tyler Madden!#ReignTrain | #ONTvsCV pic.twitter.com/OjVThrNlDu

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 22, 2023

Joseph Cecconi only spent 51 games in AHL Iowa, where the Wild were a +5 while he was on the ice. He finished his time in the Hawkeye State with 2 goals and 12 assists. He’ll provide a great depth option on the blue line for the Kings, both in LA and Ontario.

More must-reads:

• Stack Another Key MN Wild Injury on Top of the 2024-25 Pile
• Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline
• Minnesota Wild Trade for 27-Year-Old Forward Upgrade

The Minnesota Wild jumped out to a two goal 1st period lead on Tuesday night, in the 2nd half of a back-to-back home/away mini series vs the Detroit Red Wings, but failed to score again the rest of the game. They eventually fell 3-2 in regulation.

Minnesota’s biggest issue right now is not their play on the ice, talent on the roster or will to win. It’s health (and one stupid suspension). They’ve dealt with injuries and missed games by just about every single major contributor on both forward and defensive lines.

Right now, they’re missing a few of their best forwards, including the greatest player in Minnesota Wild franchise history, Kirill Kaprizov, who was on pace to win the Hart Trophy (MVP) before he went down with a lower body injury at the end of January. His return, prior the end of the regular season, is up in the air.

Earlier in the week, the Wild had to place Joel Eriksson Ek on injured reserve too, after he suffered a mysterious practice injury. Meanwhile, we still await the return of Ryan Hartman who is serving the end of what was originally a 10-game suspension (reduced to 8 games) for shoving someone’s face into the ice on a faceoff early this month.

Minnesota Wild lose Travis Dermott via waiver reclaim by Edmonton Oilers

But on Wednesday afternoon, it wasn’t a key player the Minnesota Wild organization lost, and it wasn’t to injury. Instead, they lost 28-year-old defenseman Travis Dermott, who they waived on February 25. Today, he was claimed by the Edmonton Oilers.

Defenseman Travis Dermott has been claimed off waivers by the Edmonton Oilers. https://t.co/KvNvpGREIZ

— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) February 26, 2025

When the Wild originally landed Dermott back in December, it was via waiver claim from the Oilers, who reclaimed him today. That’s part of the reason why Edmonton was able to immediately send him down to AHL Bakersfield. Minnesota would have likely assigned him to Iowa, had he cleared waivers.

Related: Ryan Hartman Suspension Shortened After Appeal

After playing 10 games with the Oilers earlier this season, Travis Dermott ended up playing 9 games with the Minnesota Wild. In those 19 total NHL appearances in 2024-25, he’s totaled 0 points and a -3 +/-, during his 12:16 TOI.

Even at 28, the best years of this Canadian’s NHL career seem to be behind him. Dermott seems to have peaked between the ages of 22 and 23 years old, when he was in the middle of his rookie contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Those two seasons, he averaged 17:18 TOI and posted 28 total points with a +9 point differential while on the ice.

More must-reads:

• Stack Another Key MN Wild Injury on Top of the 2024-25 Pile
• Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline
• Minnesota Wild Trade for 27-Year-Old Forward Upgrade

On Tuesday night, the Minnesota Wild are back at the X to defend their comeback road win, in the finale of a somewhat rare home/away regular season mini-series vs the Detroit Red Wings, who at 29-22-6 (64 points) currently stand as the No. 1 wild card team in the Eastern Conference.

Meanwhile, the MN Wild are 34-19-4 (72 points) and fighting to stay out of the Western Conference wild card conversation. They enter tonight’s interleague matchup vs Detroit as the 3rd and final Central Division playoff team in the West, four points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche (68 points), who hold the No. 1 wild card spot in the West.

Minnesota Wild lose Joel Eriksson Ek to practice injury

Unfortunately, news broke Tuesday morning that the Wild will play tonight without assistant captain and notorious instigator, Joel Eriksson Ek, after he suffered an injury at practice on Monday. It’s just the latest horrible luck injury this team has dealt with in 2024-25. According to Michael Russo (The Athletic), the 28-year-old Swede is going on injured reserve, where he is obligated to miss at least the next four games.

BAD #mnwild NEWS: Center Joel Eriksson Ek was injured in practice yesterday and has been placed on injured reserve. Must miss at least 7 days (next 4 games), but I hear he's going to be out a lot longer. Jakub Lauko will likely be activated off IR and replace him on roster

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 25, 2025

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Red Wings on Saturday despite Ryan Hartman serving a suspension, superstar Kirill Kaprizov nursing a lower-body injury (that only gets worse with time) and the rest of their best players — including Joel Eriksson Ek — fresh off a return from the 4 Nations Face-Off.

It wasn’t an easy win, either. The Wild had to storm back from a three-goal 3rd period road deficit to steal an overtime victory from the jaws of defeat at Little Caesars Arena, along with two much-needed points.

What are Wild missing without Eriksson Ek in the lineup?

Tonight, they’ll try for two more and they’ll have to do it without one of their leaders and arguably the heart and soul of their locker room. Joel Eriksson Ek has already missed 15 games this season due to injury. In the 42 games he has played, he’s amassed 9 goals and 14 assists (25 points) averaging 19:38 TOI.

Related: Ryan Hartman Suspension Shortened After Appeal

We’ve seen Ek take a huge step in his development over the last few seasons. After maxing out at 30 points through his first five NHL seasons, he potted 26 goals (49 points) in 2021-22, then pushed his point total all the way to 61 in 2022-23.

Last year was Ek’s first 30 goal season. He also posted a career high 64 points. When on the ice, he has been just as effective in 2024-25, but staying on the ice has been a chore for Ek, just like it has been for many of his teammates.

More must-reads:

• Stack Another Key MN Wild Injury on Top of the 2024-25 Pile
• Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline
• Minnesota Wild Trade for 27-Year-Old Forward Upgrade

If it feels like you haven’t seen Minnesota Wild winger Ryan Hartman in a while, you’re absolutely right. He hasn’t been on the ice since February 1, when the Wild suffered a 6-0 loss to the Senators. That game wasn’t just a loss on the scoreboard for the Wild, either—Hartman was slapped with a hefty 10-game suspension by the NHL. The regular season then took a brief hiatus for the 4 Nations Face-Off, but now the Wild are back in action, still without Hartman.

Even with the NHL’s break, Hartman’s absence was set to stretch on, as Commissioner Gary Bettman had laid down the 10-game punishment. That timeline shifted on Monday, though, when the league trimmed a bit off the suspension.

Minnesota Wild get Ryan Hartman back sooner

All season long, the Minnesota Wild have been plagued by injuries. Still, that hasn’t stopped them from ranking among the league’s best teams. Losing Ryan Hartman to a suspension after a boneheaded play certainly didn’t help the roster, though. On the brighter side, he did manage to shave two games off the penalty following an appeal.

Ryan Hartman's 10-game suspension has been reduced to eight games on appeal by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 24, 2025

It was a roughing penalty against Ottawa Senators’ Tim Stützle that first landed Ryan Hartman in the sin bin. This particular incident didn’t seem quite egregious enough to warrant such a lengthy absence, but Hartman’s rap sheet played a big role in the punishment.

Ryan Hartman has been suspended for ten games for roughing Tim Stützle. pic.twitter.com/hDJJQrMMIl

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 4, 2025

Ryan Hartman has already served four games, and therefore will just need to finish out the other half. The Wild have contests against Detroit, Utah, Colorado, and Boston during that stretch. They can first activate him on March 4 against Seattle.

Related: Bill Guerin Reveals More Bad News on Kirill Kaprizov Injury

In his sixth season with the Wild, Ryan Hartman has played 48 games so far this year. He has seven goals and 10 assists while averaging 14:45 minutes of ice time per game. A familiar face in the penalty box, Hartman has racked up a modest 60 penalty minutes. Still, it remains well short of the career-high 95 penalty minutes he logged during the 2021-22 season.

Minnesota will need as much talent at their disposal down the stretch as possible, so hartman needs to be on his best behavior. General manager Bill Guerin does not have significant operating room as the trade deadline approaches. And, superstar Kirill Kaprizov is likely to be out longer than initially reported.

Hartman’s fight benefits MN Wild

There’s a possibility that the Minnesota Wild wouldn’t even have had an opportunity for Ryan Hartman’s suspension to be appealed. But, thanks to the timing of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the process worked in both parties favor.

The Wild veteran noted an intention to appeal on February 5. While the world watched Brock Faber step into the spotlight for Team USA, Hartman got some face time with Bettman. Halfway through his timeout, he gets to return a bit sooner than expected.

Related: MN Wild Forward Named Breakout Star to Watch at 2026 Olympics

This marked Hartman’s fifth suspension, and set a Wild record for longest ban. He’s no doubt thrilled to see those final two games wiped from the slate. Assuming he can keep withhold his frustration next time, hopefully its the last one he has to deal with.

More must-reads:

• Stack Another Key MN Wild Injury on Top of the 2024-25 Pile
• Wild Division Rival Weirdly Obsessed with Minnesota at NHL Trade Deadline
• Minnesota Wild Trade for 27-Year-Old Forward Upgrade