Jonas Brodin Joins Ever Growing List of Minnesota Wild Injuries; Kaprizov Return Could be Close
All the Minnesota Wild do is win hockey games, no matter who they throw out onto the ice. Even without Kirill Kaprizov, among others, out of the lineup, the Wild have won five of their last six games and remain within striking distance of the best team in hockey, the Winnipeg Jets.
Earlier this season, we thought it was Kirill Kaprizov’s MVP caliber start that was keeping this team of grizzled veterans and promising young talent atop the Western Conference standings. But he’s been out for two-three weeks now, and the Wild are still hanging around.
Jonas Brodin added to Minnesota Wild injuries
But now, keeping the dream alive is about to get even more difficult. On Thursday, Michael Russo is reporting that two of their best defensemen, Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin, will be out tonight vs the Colorado Avalanche with injuries. Oh, and backup goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is sick.
Brodin (lower) out tonight. Day to day. Faber out. No update. Fleury is sick and questionable tonight (Iowa is in San Diego, I believe).
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) January 9, 2025
If the Minnesota Wild were playing with one hand tied behind their back, recently, now they pretty much have both hands tied up. This is a roster that is now missing Kaprizov, Faber and Brodin… which should be disastrous. But really, we thought that was the case weeks ago.
Back on December 23 vs the Chicago Blackhawks, Kirill Kaprizov sustained a lower-body injury of his own. Initial reports on his return timeline were not overly optimistic. To make matters worse, the Wild (even with Kirill) had just lost 6 of their last 8 games, including a four-game losing streak they snapped that night with a 1-0 victory vs a bad Chicago team.
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So, over Christmas break, Minnesota Wild fans braced for what was sure to be a very difficult start to the new year. With Kirill Kaprizov out of the lineup, it was time to succumb to the fact that injuries had finally caught up with our favorite pro hockey team, right?
Apparently not. Instead, a roster that has also been without some of its best players (Kaprizov, Middleton, Spurgeon) has found a way to go 5-1-0 since Kirill’s injury, something that would have sounded impossible back when it happened.
Kirill Kaprizov nearing return?
Some good news before we end? Kirill Kaprizov has been skating and may travel with the team when they leave for a road trip that starts in San Jose on Saturday. If this actually happens, I cannot imagine head coach John Hynes and President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin could have seen it playing out any better, while Kaprizov was out.
Kaprizov skated last few days. Hynes doesn’t know if he’ll go on trip yet. Lauko close.
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) January 9, 2025
Even the most optimistic fans were just hoping the Wild’s secondary stars and bench of youngsters could keep the boat afloat, until Kaprizov & Co. could return. Can they continue to win games, now that TWO more crucial pieces of their blue line are out with injuries? We’ll find out tonight when they play in St. Paul vs the Colorado Avalanche.
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