Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon is expected to miss two to three weeks due to a right leg injury sustained during a game against the Nashville Predators earlier this week. The injury occurred when L’Heureux slew-footed Spurgeon, causing his leg to bend awkwardly as he crashed into the boards.
General manager Bill Guerin confirmed that surgery is not required and that the injury is worse than initially thought due to its impact on team performance. Spurgeon’s absence will be felt by the team, particularly since captain Jake Middleton has already been missing for almost a month with a similar injury.
Middleton is expected to return as soon as next week, but leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov’s status remains uncertain due to a lower-body injury. Guerin emphasized that rushing back Kaprizov could lead to further complications and prioritized his long-term health.
Coach John Hynes praised Spurgeon’s toughness and expected him to make a strong recovery. Teammates, including defensemen Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin, expressed confidence in their ability to fill Spurgeon’s role without overcompensating.
With Spurgeon out, the Wild must adapt to a different defensive dynamic, but Hynes assured that his team will continue to perform well despite the loss of their leader. The injury is a setback for Minnesota, but they are confident in their players’ abilities to overcome it and come back stronger.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/43263593/wild-spurgeon-2-3-weeks-getting-injured-lheureux-slew-foot