Minnesota Wild Roster: Five Players Return to Practice Ahead of Road Trip
Coach John Hynes faces lineup choices as Brock Faber, Jared Spurgeon, and other key returnees join the team in Montreal.
By Michael Bennett ·
Five Minnesota Wild players returned to the ice at Grand Casino Arena on Thursday morning, marking a major shift for the roster heading into next week. The group includes defensemen Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon, forwards Nick and Marcus Foligno, and goalie Filip Gustavsson. All five have missed significant time due to injury during the first five weeks of the season.
Faber and Gustavsson have not played a game this season. Faber underwent surgery for a skull fracture, while Gustavsson had surgery to repair a hip injury. The Foligno brothers played a few games in early October before their own injuries forced them out. Spurgeon is also out for the second time this season.
Coach John Hynes said the team is not expected to play Faber, Spurgeon, or Gustavsson in the upcoming home games against San Jose on Friday or Tampa Bay on Saturday. However, all five players are scheduled to travel with the team next week to Montreal, Toronto, and Boston. The return of these regulars creates immediate decisions for the coaching staff regarding starting lineups.
The Wild enter this period with a 11-3-3 record and 25 points. They are tied with Edmonton for the lead in the Western Conference. Hynes noted that the return of healthy players changes the dynamic on the ice. He said the energy in the building was good because the players were back together after being isolated during their recoveries.
“To have guys that have been out for quite a bit all back together, there’s some good energy and life,” Hynes said after practice. He added that injured players often feel disconnected from the team while on the road, but returning to the group provides a sense of belonging.
The coaching staff now must decide how to integrate the returnees into the current lineup. For the defense, Hynes faces the task of slotting Faber and Spurgeon back in, likely replacing Matt Kiersted and David Spacek. On the front line, the return of the Folignos may push Nico Sturm, Tyler Pitlick, or Yakov Trenin off the roster. The goalie situation also changes with Gustavsson available, as Jesper Wallstedt has started 15 of 17 games and Calvin Pickard serves as the backup.
Hynes emphasized that returning players must match the commitment and work ethic of the current roster. “They’ve got to pick up their end of the bargain, as well,” he said. The team will determine the final lineups as they prepare for their first road trip of the month.
