Wild Lineup: Five veterans return to practice as roster decisions loom
Coach John Hynes faces difficult choices as injured players rejoin the team, which leads the Western Conference in points despite missing key personnel all month.
By Neha Kapoor ·
Five Minnesota Wild players who missed substantial portions of the first five weeks of the season returned to the ice for a practice session on Thursday morning at Grand Casino Arena. The group includes defensemen Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon, forwards Nick and Marcus Foligno, and goaltender Filip Gustavsson. Their return forces the coaching staff to make immediate personnel decisions as the team prepares for its next slate of games.
Faber and Gustavsson have not played this season due to surgeries. Faber underwent a skull fracture procedure, while Gustavsson had hip surgery. The Foligno brothers played only a few games in early October before their own injuries ended their participation. Spurgeon is currently out for the second time this season. Coach John Hynes does not expect any of the five to play in the upcoming home games against San Jose on Friday or Tampa Bay on Saturday.
The team entered the week with a 11-3-3 record and 25 points. That total ties them with Edmonton for the lead in the Western Conference. The strong performance occurred despite the absence of regulars, creating a scenario where returning players must compete for spots against those who have started the season.
The Wild are scheduled to travel to Montreal, Toronto, and Boston next week. Faber, Spurgeon, Gustavsson, and both Folignos are listed for that trip. Hynes indicated that the defensive lineup changes may be straightforward. He expects Faber and Spurgeon to return to the blue line, likely replacing Matt Kiersted and David Spacek.
Forward decisions are more complex. The return of the Folignos puts Nico Sturm, Tyler Pitlick, and potentially Yakov Trenin on the roster bubble. Goaltending presents a different challenge. Jesper Wallstedt has started 15 of the team's 17 games so far, and Calvin Pickard serves as the backup. Gustavsson's availability creates a surplus in that position.
Hynes praised the effort of the players who stayed healthy and helped the team win during October. He stated that returning players must match the commitment and work ethic established by the current lineup. He noted that having the players back together created positive energy on the ice after they spent time isolated during their recoveries.
KSTP Channel 5 will broadcast Friday's game against San Jose over the air for free. Both weekend games will also be available on Wild+.
