Minnesota Receive Positive Injury Update On 2 Key Players
The Minnesota Wild may welcome back star winger Kirill Kaprizov and top defensive center Joel Eriksson Ek for Wednesday’s matchup against the San Jose Sharks, pending positive results from the morning skate, per The Athletic’s Michael Russo.
While Eriksson Ek’s return won’t require a corresponding roster move, Kaprizov’s $9 million cap hit will force the Wild to clear space. With just 1.32M in available cap room, Minnesota will likely reassign two depth forwards, likely Brendan Gaunce and Devin Shore, to AHL Iowa.
BIG #mnwild NEWS: Hearing if today’s morning skate goes well, BOTH Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek may return tonight against the #sjsharks.
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 9, 2025
This would necessitate some roster moves from the Wild (Shore, Gaunce back to Iowa, I believe)
Timely Reinforcements for Playoff Push
The Wild’s recent slide has dropped them into the second wild-card spot in the West, now trailing the St. Louis Blues. Though they still hold a four-point cushion over the Calgary Flames with four games left, Calgary has a game in hand.
According to MoneyPuck, Minnesota has a 91% chance of securing the final playoff berth—a probability that will rise significantly with Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek back in the lineup.
Impact of Kaprizov’s Absence
Kaprizov, the Wild’s third-leading scorer despite missing over half the season, last played consistently in December before a lower-body injury sidelined him. After a brief three-game return in January (two assists, -2 rating), he aggravated the issue and underwent surgery, initially expected to sideline him for four weeks. Instead, his absence stretched beyond two months, coinciding with Minnesota’s decline from a top-three Central Division spot to a wild-card battle.
Since Kaprizov’s extended absence began around Christmas, the Wild have gone 21-19-3 while averaging just 2.51 goals per game—a stark drop from their 21-10-4 record and 2.97 goals per game in their first 35 contests.
Eriksson Ek’s Struggles
Eriksson Ek, meanwhile, has been limited to 42 games due to recurring lower-body injuries, including his current absence since February 22. His offensive production (0.57 points per game) has dipped to its lowest since 2020-21, and his Selke Trophy candidacy has likely taken a hit.
Playoff Implications
If both stars return healthy and the Wild clinch a postseason berth, their outlook improves dramatically. Before injuries derailed their season, Minnesota was among the league’s best teams, backed by strong goaltending from Filip Gustavsson and a top-five defensive structure (2.31 xGA/60, per Natural Stat Trick).
However, their special teams remain a glaring weakness—their 72.7% penalty kill ranks 30th—which could prove costly in a potential first-round matchup against the Winnipeg Jets and their league-best power play.
The imminent return of their star players virtually guarantees that they’ll be available for Game 1 of the playoffs. The Wild, who haven’t won a playoff series since 2015, will hope their stars can help end a seven-series losing streak in the Kaprizov era.
Image - Nick Wosika-Imagn
