Things are looking good for the Minnesota Wild. They find themselves in a favorable position in the Western Conference and barring a major collapse, they appear to have their wildcard spot and ticket to the playoffs locked in. Of course, how can we expect anything else from the team belonging to the hockey capital of America? But although the team appears to be thriving, the landscape can shift dramatically in the NHL within seconds.
On X, PuckReportNHL reported troubling news for the Minnesota Wild, announcing, “Defender David Jiricek suffered a lacerated spleen in the AHL and is done for the season.” Yet another injury has struck a player from the Wild hockey team. In a recent AHL matchup, Wild defenseman David Jiricek suffered a lacerated spleen while playing for the Iowa Wild against the Ontario Reign, cutting short his 2024-25 season unexpectedly.
In light of this challenge, Jiricek is anticipated to fully recuperate and be prepared for the commencement of the 2025-26 season. Before the injury, the 21-year-old Czech defenseman participated in 12 NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, tallying one goal, two assists, and three points. During his time in the AHL, he recorded seven assists and seven points in 27 games with Iowa. He had the potential to be a key contributor to the Wild’s playoff ambitions, but now he finds himself alongside numerous other players on the injury reserve list.
Who exactly are these players? Star forward Kirill Kaprizov has returned to the ice following lower-body surgery in late January, yet he is still classified as week-to-week with no clear timeline for his comeback. Center Joel Eriksson Ek is currently dealing with a lower-body injury and is anticipated to be unavailable until the next month. Defenseman Declan Chisholm is currently classified as day-to-day due to a lower-body injury.
The absence of key players presents considerable obstacles for the Wild as they maneuver through the rest of the season in pursuit of playoff contention. Amidst the pursuit of playoff glory, the Wild have also revealed plans for a significant renovation of their home arena.
