First the good news, Karil Kaprizov is set to return to the Wild lineup on Saturday!
That is huge news!!!
Of equal note the bad news is however.
Joel Eriksson Ek is out on a week to week basis with a lower body injury suffered last noght in Pittsburgh.
Eriksson Ek may just be the one player in the Wild lineup that they can ill afford to be without for any real extended period of time. JEE is so valuable to the Wild and their game plan in every aspect. He is their best shutdown center, and arguably the very best in the NHL. He is also key to the powerplay and penalty killing units. His value as a Worldclass agitator cannot be over looked either, as he draws so many penalties.
This is a huge blow to the Wild for sure, however it will create an opportunity for someone else to step up, just as they have all season. This Wild team is just that, and they will pull together until JEE can get back.
Big points left on the schedule and the Wild have to get things turned back up this last week before the real season begins...