Wild face roster choices as five players return from injury
Coach John Hynes must decide when to insert healthy regulars into a lineup that led the Western Conference in points during October.
By Elena Castillo ·
The Minnesota Wild face a series of lineup decisions as five regular players return to full practice this week. The team holds a tie for the lead in the Western Conference with 25 points, forcing the coaching staff to weigh the merits of current performers against returning veterans.
Defensemen Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon, forwards Nick and Marcus Foligno, and goalie Filip Gustavsson all returned to the ice at Grand Casino Arena on Thursday. This group accounts for a substantial portion of the team's experienced core.
Faber and Gustavsson missed the entire start of the season due to surgery. Faber underwent a procedure for a skull fracture, while Gustavsson had hip surgery. The Foligno twins played only a few games in early October before sustaining injuries. 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 will travel to Montreal, Toronto, and Boston next week. All five returning players are scheduled to join that road trip.
The easy choices involve the defense. Faber and Spurgeon will likely replace Matt Kiersted and David Spacek in the defensive lineup. The forward group presents a more complex puzzle. The return of the Folignos could push Nico Sturm, Tyler Pitlick, and Yakov Trenin off the roster.
Goalie selection is also affected. Jesper Wallstedt has started 15 of 17 games this season. Calvin Pickard has served as the backup. With Gustavsson healthy, the Wild will have a surplus of options between the pipes.
Hynes noted that the team's success in October occurred despite the injuries. The Wild went 11-3-3 in the month. The coach stated that returning players must match the work ethic and commitment shown by the current lineup.
“Anytime as a coach that you have decisions to make, it’s good, because the players have put you in that situation,” Hynes said. He added that the players currently playing have done a good job helping the team win.
The team practiced at Grand Casino Arena on Thursday morning. The arena held nearly 18,000 empty seats, but the ice was crowded with players. Hynes described the atmosphere on the rink as energetic.
KSTP Channel 5 will broadcast the Friday game against San Jose over the air for free. Both weekend games will also be available on the Wild+ platform.
