The Minnesota Wild are facing a significant setback as their captain, Jared Spurgeon, has sustained a severe leg injury during a match against the Nashville Predators. The injury occurred in the second period when Spurgeon collided with rookie forward Zachary L'Heureux, who executed a slew foot maneuver that resulted in Spurgeon crashing hard into the boards, injuring his right knee. This incident comes as the Wild are already dealing with the absence of key players, including Kirill Kaprizov, Jake Middleton, and Jakub Lauko.
L'Heureux received a match penalty for his actions, which have drawn criticism due to his history of aggressive play, including multiple suspensions in junior and minor leagues. Following the incident, Yakov Trenin attempted to defend Spurgeon by confronting L'Heureux, leading to a roughing minor for Trenin. Wild head coach John Hynes condemned the play as cheap and expressed hope that the league would review the incident further.
In the wake of Spurgeon's injury, the Wild may need to look towards their AHL affiliates for potential replacements. David Jiricek and Cameron Crotty are two right-shot defensemen available, with Jiricek recently acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jiricek has shown promise, scoring his first goal with the Iowa Wild, and could be a valuable asset should Spurgeon’s recovery take longer than anticipated. The team is left to navigate these challenges as they aim to maintain their competitive edge in the league.
