MN Wild Reveal Good News on Joel Eriksson Ek Injury

The Minnesota Wild showed the NHL, with the trade for Quinn Hughes, that they are all in on winning right now.

But when they sent Marco Rossi out in that deal, rookie center Danila Yurov settled in as the team’s first line center, between fellow Russian Kirill Kaprizov and his best buddy, Mats Zuccarello. Meanwhile, the Wild’s best center, Joel Eriksson Ek, has been on the second line, between Matt Boldy and Marcus Johansson.

While the lineup shuffle has mostly worked so far, it’s become clear that the MN Wild need more talent up the middle if they really want to consider themselves legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

Joel Eriksson Ek ruled out with day-to-day injury

But on Monday, the Wild got another painful reminder at just how desperate they really are for center talent, when Eriksson Ek left Monday’s game in Seattle early with an undisclosed injury.

Then Saturday evening, prior to Minnesota’s matchup back at Grand Casino Arena, head coach John Hynes met with media and revealed that the 28-year-old center has been ruled out for tonight’s return to home ice.

Joel Eriksson Ek is officially day-to-day, but Hynes did seem optimistic that the MN Wild’s veteran locker room leader and on-ice agitator is expected to return to the lineup in short order.

Hynes said Eriksson Ek still day to day, his injury considered minor. Will know more on Monday. Jones in. #mnwild. Gustavsson in net

— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) January 10, 2026

Joel Eriksson Ek is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, 45 games in. He needs just one more game to match his total games played from 2024-25. His 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) already stands as fourth-most in his career.

The 10-year NHL veteran needs to reach 64 points to match his career high, set back in 2023-24, when he appeared in 77 of the Wild’s 82 games.

Minnesota Wild planning much-needed trade for center help

The Wild may have the third-most points in hockey (60), entering tonight’s matchup back at home against the New York Islanders. But the two teams ahead of them, the Avs (71) and Stars (60) also play in the Central Division.

We all know the details of the Hughes trade by now. Minnesota sent the equivalent of four first round draft picks — including Zeev Buium and Rossi — to Vancouver, in exchange for the 26-year-old Hughes, who is widely considered the second-best defenseman in hockey.

Quinn Hughes with a long stretch pass to Joel Eriksson Ek who ties it back up 🚨 pic.twitter.com/K5OXesdoPM

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 4, 2026

But if they want to keep pace with Colorado — by far the most complete team in hockey — the MN wild will have to fix their issues up the middle before the March trade deadline.

And from everything we have heard recently, Guerin has found plenty of time between planning for the upcoming Olympic games next month, as the Team USA GM, to peruse the early NHL trade market for a top-line center.

Until they find it, the Minnesota Wild will depend on Yurov, Ryan Hartman and Nico Sturm to hold down the fort, along with Eriksson Ek when he returns. Thankfully, it sounds like that will be sooner than later.