Matt Boldy Injury Will Keep Him Out of Wild Lineup for Weeks

The Minnesota Wild have started their 2023 season with a 1-1-0 record, winning their opener at home vs the Florida Panthers, before being knocked off in Toronto 7-4 vs the Maple Leafs. But they lost more than just a hockey game on Saturday night, in their first of two-straight contests across the border.

Matt Boldy injury week-to-week

It wasn’t immediately noticed, but forward, Matt Boldy, left the game in Toronto during the 3rd period and never returned. Afterwards, his ailment was reported as an upper-body injury. Then, on Monday, Michael Russo (The Athletic) let it be known that the Wild’s fast-rising 22-year-old winger is expected to miss weeks, not days.

Bill Guerin says Matt Boldy is out week to week. Not an LTIR situation but #mnwild will no more when they get home

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) October 16, 2023

The good news: Wild President of Hockey Operations, Bill Guerin, told Russo that the Wild do not plan on placing Boldy on long term injured reserve. But that won’t help the team put pucks in the net for the next however many weeks, while they wait for the return of their 2nd leading goal scorer from 2022-23.

Minnesota Wild have limited options to fill in for Boldy

To take Matt’s place in the lineup, Minnesota decided not to re-assign Dakota Mermis to Iowa. Mermis, a defenseman, will dress on Tuesday night for game 2 of 2 across the border, vs the Montreal Canadiens, in place of Boldy.

According to Russo, the Wild do not plan on playing Mermis as a forward. Instead, they’re expected to double-shift Kaprizov (among others), at least for one night. They hope it will help Kirill find his game, after a somewhat sluggish start.

My assumption is presuming the #mnwild get out of tomorrow healthy, they’d flip Mermis for a forward on the homestand

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) October 16, 2023

Related: Minnesota Wild Name Kirill Kaprizov Alternate Captain

The obvious call-up, Sammy Walker, has a contract that is too expensive for the Wild to afford under the NHL salary cap, if they keep Boldy off long term IR. So, unfortunately, the team’s 2023 preseason points leader is not an option, which is insane.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan