Minnesota Wild face roster choices as five regulars return to practice
Coach John Hynes must decide when injured players rejoin the lineup after a strong start for the team.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
The Minnesota Wild entered the 2026-27 season with a full roster, but a string of injuries left the team shorthanded for its first five weeks. On Thursday, the club held practice at Grand Casino Arena, where five regulars returned to the ice after missing time.
Defensemen Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon, forwards Nick and Marcus Foligno, and goaltender Filip Gustavsson all participated in the session. Faber and Gustavsson had missed the entire start of the campaign due to surgeries. Faber underwent a procedure for a skull fracture, while Gustavsson had surgery to repair a hip issue.
The Foligno brothers played in only a few games in early October before suffering their own injuries. Spurgeon is returning from a second absence this season. Hynes said he does not expect any of the five to start in Friday’s game against San Jose or Saturday’s matchup with Tampa Bay. However, he noted that all five players are progressing well in their recoveries.
The team’s success makes these roster moves complicated. The Wild finished October with an 11-3-3 record and 25 points, tying Edmonton for the lead in the Western Conference. Hynes noted that the current lineup has performed well, creating a dilemma for coaching staff as the regulars return. The team travels to Montreal, Toronto, and Boston next week, and the five returning players are scheduled to be on that trip.
Hynes stated that the return of these players puts several others on the bubble. The Folignos could push Nico Sturm, Tyler Pitlick, or Yakov Trenin out of the lineup. The return of Gustavsson creates a goaltending surplus, as Jesper Wallstedt has started 15 of the team’s first 17 games. Calvin Pickard currently serves as the backup. Hynes said he expects the returning players to match the work ethic and commitment shown by those who have started the season.
The Wild will play San Jose Friday and Tampa Bay Saturday at Grand Casino Arena. KSTP Channel 5 will broadcast the Friday game over the air for free. Both weekend games will also be available on the Wild+ platform.
