Minnesota Wild Face Tough Road as Spurgeon Injured
The Minnesota Wild received some encouraging news regarding Jared Spurgeon’s injury, but the team is still dealing with the loss of their captain, along with several other key players.
Spurgeon’s Injury Not as Severe as Initially Feared
Despite the frightening nature of the play and Spurgeon’s inability to initially put weight on his right leg, the Wild’s medical evaluation revealed the injury is not as severe as initially feared. Minnesota Wild president and general manager Bill Guerin indicated that while Spurgeon’s injury is significant enough to keep him out of the lineup, the Wild are hopeful for a swift return within two to three weeks.
Nashville’s Zachary L’Heureux has been suspended for three games for slew-footing Minnesota’s Jared Spurgeon.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 2, 2025
Zachary L’Heureux, the Nashville Predators player responsible for the slew-foot which injured Spurgeon, received a three-game suspension and a salary fine of $13,489.59 for the infraction. L’Heureux’ history of disciplinary actions further highlight the gravity of the play.
Zachary L’Heureux’s suspension history (# of games)
QMJHL:
Unsportsmanlike (3)
Highsticking (3)
Unsportsmanlike (2)
Fighting violation (4)
Highsticking (4)
Highsticking (6)
Aggressor (1)
Staged fight (3)
Fan altercation (10)AHL:
Sucker punch (2)
Fight (1)NHL:
Slew-foot (3)— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 2, 2025
Guerin expressed his dissatisfaction with the play, highlighting the concern for Spurgeon’s health.
Kaprizov Remains Sidelined
Alongside Spurgeon’s injury, the Wild continue to be without another cornerstone player, Kirill Kaprizov. Kaprizov, missing his fourth consecutive game, will also miss Saturday’s matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. While there’s no timetable for his return, Guerin emphasizes a cautious approach, prioritizing Kaprizov’s long-term health over rushing back too soon after a lower-body injury.
Middleton’s Progress and Lambos Recall
In a positive development, defenseman Jake Middleton, sidelined since early December with a broken finger, has begun skating with pucks and is considered eligible to return from long-term injured reserve next week.
Here is Jake Middleton’s injury. His night ended 37 seconds into his first shift. Struck on hand by one of the NHL’s hardest shooters pic.twitter.com/CmLT5RdQQ3
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 13, 2024
Carson Lambos, a right-shot defenseman, was recalled from AHL Iowa to provide depth.
Supporting Spurgeon, a Team’s Leader
Faber, reflecting on fellow defenseman Spurgeon’s injury, emphasized the team’s unwavering support for their captain. The Wild are rallying around Spurgeon, knowing he will work tirelessly for his return.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Minnesota Wild as they navigate these challenging times.