Minnesota Wild players are bracing for life without Captain Jared Spurgeon as he deals with a serious leg injury suffered in Tuesday’s game against Nashville. The veteran defenseman, who has been the team’s leader on the ice and in the room, left the arena on crutches after suffering an apparent right leg injury.
Spurgeon, 35, was limited to just 16 games last season due to various injuries, including a season-ending surgery in January 2024. His teammates are urging him to bounce back soon as the team prepares for their first game of 2025 without him. Defenseman Declan Chisholm praised Spurgeon’s leadership and dedication to the team.
The Wild have already lost several key players due to injury, including star forward Kirill Kaprizov, who was placed on injured reserve. The team is expected to recall a defenseman from their Iowa AHL affiliate to help address the depleted blue line corps.
With the NHL’s Department of Player Safety investigating the hit that left Spurgeon injured, Wild coach John Hynes called it a “cheap hit” and expressed uncertainty about the severity of the injury. The team faces a tough road ahead as they navigate the remainder of the 2024-25 season without one of their top defenders.
Source: https://www.twincities.com/2025/01/01/wild-captain-jared-spurgeon-will-have-mri-after-cheap-hit-sidelined-him-tuesday