Latest Joel Eriksson Ek Injury Update is Not Good News for the Minnesota Wild
The (17-4-4) Minnesota Wild are one of the best teams in the NHL, despite dealing with injuries throughout the roster, for much of the season. As of now, longtime defensive staple Jonas Brodin and veteran wing, Mats Zuccarello are both on injured reserve, and deemed “week-to-week” on the injury report.
Joel Eriksson Ek injury update brings bad news
Unfortunately, Joel Eriksson Ek may be joining them, after he was listed on the Wild’s injury report Wednesday with the same “week-to-week” designation as Brodin and Zuccarello.
Depending on how president of hockey operations Bill Guerin decides to maneuver around the NHL salary cap, it would make sense for Ek to spend some time on IR, too, since he will be out multiple games with this “lower body injury”.
#mnwild Injury Updates:
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) December 4, 2024
Jonas Brodin is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
Joel Eriksson Ek is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Jakub Lauko is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Mats Zuccarello is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
I'm hearing Joel Eriksson Ek is going to be week to week with a lower-body injury, so this is going to be a blow to the #mnwild. But this team has found a way to overcome lots of injuries so far this season. Of course, Eriksson Ek is considered their most irreplaceable center
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 4, 2024
It’s believed that the 27-year-old Swede suffered his “lower body injury” when his knee collided with Jake DeBrusk’s in overtime of Minnesota’s win over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. He was also cross-checked in the lower back during the third period. No penalty was called, but Eriksson Ek struggled to skate back to the bench afterwards.
Related: Minnesota Wild Send Top Prospects Back Down to Iowa Amid Eriksson Ek Injury Concern
Joel Eriksson Ek has 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) so far this season. His +10 goal differential ranks 4th on the Minnesota Wild, behind only Kirill Kaprizov (+19), Jake Middleton (+18) and Brock Faber (+12). The Wild are no skating without three of their best players.
Minnesota Wild need youngsters to step up
It will be up to kids like Marco Rossi, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber to pick up the slack. So far, the mounting injuries have not affected this team in any major way. Their 38 points currently have them sitting atop the NHL standings, looking down on every other team in the league.
We’ll see if they can keep up their winning ways, without the heartbeat of their team. Outside of Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek is arguably the most important forward in the Minnesota Wild lineup… and now he won’t be in it.
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