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Olympic Plans Canceled for MN Wild Defenseman
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- Olympic Plans Canceled for MN Wild Defenseman
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Wild throttled the Toronto Maple Leafs to the tune of a 6-3 victory. Things haven't been as easy as they were immediately after acquiring star defenseman Quinn Hughes . John Hynes' team has been on something of an up and down stretch lately.
A good reason for that is due to the injuries the team has suffered. The injured list gained two top players just last week, and the Wild are walking wounded.
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This season the NHL will take a break during the month of February for the Olympics . Plenty of MN Wild players will head to Italy but Jonas Brodin will not be among them.
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MN Wild Jonas Brodin out of Olympics
Team Sweden was hoping for the talent of Jonas Brodin to be protecting their blue line. While national competitions are definitely important, the Minnesota Wild have a contractual agreement with Brodin and expect him to help them win a Stanley Cup . Therefore he'll be on the sidelines next month.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin will miss the Olympics with a lower-body injury, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday. Brodin's timeline for a return to the Wild lineup is six to eight weeks. NHL Olympians are scheduled to leave for Milan on Feb. 7, with the gold-medal game on Feb. 22.
Michael Russo's (The Athletic) report indicates that the Minnesota Wild defenseman will be keeping his professional career at the forefront. It's disappointing that he can't represent his country, but the injury can't just be swept under the rug.
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Although the NHL doesn't disclose specifics of injuries, Brodin has not played since January 12 . A six to eight week timeline has him preparing for a return at the end of February or early March.
At this point, Brodin has put together a consistent amount of injury-plagued seasons. He played in 73 games during the 2021-22 season, but has not played in more than 62 games since . Last season he was available for just 50 games.
In 42 games this season for the Wild, Brodin has three goals and 12 assists. He is a plus-13 on the season, and despite being 32 and in his 14th season, remains incredibly productive when on the ice.
More MN Wild talent may miss Olympics
It's not just Brodin who may miss the Olmypics for Team Sweden. Teammate Joel Eriksson Ek is also currently shelved for the Minnesota Wild. His status will need to be evaluated, but Sweden just count on him to be available.
"I know all the treatment guys around every team here in the NHL is so good that hopefully they can get them back in shape and go there, If it happens they can't be there, Sweden's got a lot of good players in the NHL. We're going to be just fine."
Both Wild goalies, Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt, are expected in net for Team Sweden. They'd love to have current Minnesota teammates on the ice with them in Milan.
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If Eriksson Ek is not able to go, it could open a pathway for Marcus Johansson to be added . Thus far the Swedes have not made roster changes.
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