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Surprise: MN Wild Place Two Top Forwards on IR
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- Surprise: MN Wild Place Two Top Forwards on IR
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Injuries have been a big part of the Minnesota Wild's recent stretch of losing. Most recently, it's been centerman Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin who have both missed time over the last week with new ailments.
We knew shortly after he suffered his lower-body injury, that Jonas Brodin was going to be out a little while. Not long after being listed "week-to-week", the 32-year-old defenseman was placed on injured reserve.
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Joel Eriksson Ek, however, has been skating for a couple of days and the Wild. Just yesterday, head coach John Hynes was hopeful his top center would return for Minnesota's upcoming road trip. But that will not happen.
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Joel Eriksson Ek, Matt Boldy hit Minnesota Wild injured reserve
Instead, the 28-year-old center was retroactively placed on injured reserve Friday. While he's technically eligible to return whenever, it seems highly unlikely to happen this week/weekend.
And the news didn't get any better from there. Joining Ek and Brodin in the St. Paul training room, while their Minnesota Wild teammates head East for three games against the Sabres, Maple Leafs and Canadiens, will be blossoming superstar Matt Boldy, who was also placed on injured reserve Friday.
Significant #mnwild news.
Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek have been placed on injured reserve. Hunter Haight and Nicolas Aube-Kubel have been recalled. Means Boldy has to miss at least the next 4 games. Ek, Bogosian, Brodin and Boldy all on IR— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) January 16, 2026
Unlike Ek, Boldy is out for a mandatory four games. That's a huge problem for a team suddenly struggling to find the net. The 24-year-old soon-to-be Olympian currently leads the MN Wild in goals, with 25, which ranks third in the NHL. His 51 total points on the season come in second on the team, behind only Kirill Kaprizov.
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To replace all of these key pieces, general manager Bill Guerin is calling up forwards Hunter Haight and Nicolas Aube-Kubel from Iowa, along with defenseman David Jiricek. David Spacek, who made his NHL debut on Tuesday, remains on the roster. Carson Lambos is going back to the AHL.
More proof that the Minnesota Wild need another center
Without Ek in the lineup, the Wild really don't have a top-six caliber NHL center… an issue that's become quite evident over this 0-2-1 stretch without him.
Obviously, any team would struggle, losing a top wing, center and defenseman. But this recent rash of injuries only highlight just how badly the Minnesota Wild need more help, if they want to fancy themselves a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
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Related: MN Wild Dangling Surprise Asset on NHL Trade Block?
Outside of Eriksson Ek, the Wild do not have a legitimate top line center on their healthy roster right now. Since the Quinn Hughes trade, Russian rookie Danila Yurov has been Minnesota's designated top line center, playing between Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello.
We all expect Bill Guerin to pull the trigger on another major trade. We'll see if all these injuries push him to work faster, because most of the league wants to wait on serious trade deadline talks until after the Olympic break.
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