Eriksson Ek to Center Wild’s Top Line Thursday vs Kings

It’s been something that Minnesota Wild fans have been wondering for awhile. Are we going to see Joel Eriksson Ek move up in the lineup so he can center a line that includes Kirill Kaprizov and/or Kevin Fiala.

Well, Dean Evason was on KFAN Radio with Paul Allen and Brandon Mileski at 9:45 this morning where he announced that, yes indeeed, Eriksson Ek is moving up to center the first line tonight vs the LA Kings.

Now that the team is practicing, we also know who will be on each side of Ek.

Dean Evason just told @PAOnTheMic and @BMileskiKFAN that Joel Eriksson Ek will play top line center tonight #mnwild

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 28, 2021

Some new lines for #mnwild:
Parise-Bjugstad-Fiala
Johansson-Eriksson Ek-Kaprizov
Rask-Bonino-Hartman
Greenway-Sturm-Foligno
Suter-Spurgeon
Brodin-Dumba
Soucy-Cole

— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) January 28, 2021

Johansson – Eriksson Ek – Kaprizov

I’ll add audio from KFAN as soon as their podcast goes live or they cut a clip for social media. Brandon asked Dean Evason if he’s thought about moving Ek up in the lineup. Dean told him (in essence), ‘yes, we’re doing it tonight’.

Dean Evason and Billy Guerin know hockey much better than I do but I’m a bit surprised that Parise isn’t on the wing next to Ek and Kaprizov. If you know better than me (you very well might) let me know in any of our social media or comment sections.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan