The Minnesota Wild were unexpectedly disappointing a season ago, but given the injuries to the likes of
Kirill Kaprizov and captain Jared Spurgeon, a major step back is to be expected. While the 2024/25 season started better on the injury front, it's getting worse for the Wild, with
Jared Spurgeon expected to miss more time already after playing just 16 games a year ago due to injury.
In four games this year, the Wild are 2-0-2, and look much better this season after that injury-ravaged campaign a year ago, and if their 34-year-old captain can get back to full health at some point, there's no reason why they can't make a playoff push this season. The team has missed Joel Eriksson-Ek and Marcus Johanssen already this season, and with Spurgeon now out, they will need to use their depth to continue competing all season long, and with optimism that Spurgeon will be back soon after both of those veterans returned to the ice ahead of the road trip, things appear to be going the Wild's way this season, unlike the 2023/24 campaign on the injury front.