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Minnesota Wild Sign Brock Faber

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The Minnesota Wild have put pen to paper with one of their top defensive prospects, inking Brock Faber to a three-year entry-level deal.

According to The Athletic’s Michael Russo, Faber will travel with the Wild for their road game against the Chicago Blackhawks and “burn” a year of his entry-level contract. He signs this deal after concluding his accomplished three-year collegiate career at the University of Minnesota.

At Minnesota, Faber scored 53 points in 97 total games and captained his team to the NCAA’s National Championship game, which happened last night. While the Gophers lost in dramatic and heartbreaking fashion just seconds into overtime against Quinnipiac University, Faber remains a decorated college player. He is a two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 10 and won the conference title as a freshman.

Even before this season, Faber cemented himself as a top prospect with a brilliant 2021-22 campaign that saw him earn a spot on the United States’ team for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. He also played on Team USA for two World Junior Championships.

Faber is half of the Wild’s compensation package that they received from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for star forward Kevin Fiala, alongside the 2022 first-round pick that became Djurgarden forward Liam Ohgren.

While he might not reach the heights Fiala has as an NHLer, Faber has done everything necessary to give fans confidence that he will become a difference-making blueliner at the NHL level, and perhaps with this entry-level deal in hand, Faber can do that sooner rather than later.

Mason Shaw Will Have ACL Surgery Next Week

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  • Wild winger Mason Shaw will have his ACL surgery next week, relays Michael Russo of The Athletic (Twitter link). It will be the fourth such procedure that the 24-year-old has had.  The recovery timeline is typically eight to nine months which means he won’t be available for training camp in the fall but will be tendered a qualifying offer this spring.  Shaw finished with 17 points and 87 hits in 59 games this season.

Joel Eriksson Ek Out Week-To-Week, Kirill Kaprizov To Return

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The Minnesota Wild’s center depth took a hit on Wednesday, as Joel Eriksson Ek was listed as week to week with a lower-body injury, per Michael Russo of The Athletic. The news is a significant blow to the team’s weakest position and takes the Wild’s best two-way forward out of the lineup longer-term as the playoffs quickly approach. Trade deadline acquisition Oskar Sundqvist is also day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

It wasn’t all bad news, though, as Russo reported that Kirill Kaprizov is set to return to the lineup tomorrow against the St. Louis Blues after missing multiple weeks with a lower-body injury.

Kaprizov has been the Wild’s best skater by a mile again this season, scoring 39 goals and 35 assists in 65 games. His return will be a welcome sight for a team that will struggle to fill the gap left at center by Eriksson Ek’s injury. The Wild managed to stay afloat in his absence, going 7-3-3 in 13 games without their star scorer and recording 3.62 goals per game, well above their season average of 2.9.

The news on Eriksson Ek, however, is concerning for the Wild, as the 26-year-old has been one of the team’s most reliable players this season. He has scored 23 goals and 38 assists in 78 games, logging almost 19 minutes per game in the process of his career offensive year. The Wild have limited options at center without him, though, and pressure will shift back onto last year’s breakout star, Ryan Hartman, down the stretch to carry the weight in the middle of the ice.

Sundqvist’s injury may be less severe than Eriksson Ek’s, but it still leaves the Wild with another hole to fill in their lineup. The Wild acquired Sundqvist in a trade deadline deal with the Detroit Red Wings and has provided solid depth scoring in the bottom six, recording seven points in 15 games with Minnesota.

As Russo notes, the Wild will need to call up a forward ahead of tomorrow’s game from the AHL’s Iowa Wild to ice 12 players at the position. It could be a chance for 21-year-old Marco Rossi, who had one assist in 16 games earlier this season, to get a late-season look in the NHL lineup.

Gustav Nyquist Could Return This Weekend

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When Gustav Nyquist was shut down with a shoulder injury in late January, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that he was expected to miss the rest of the regular season. That was curious, given he wasn’t going to undergo surgery, and the veteran forward quickly came out to say that he would not give up on the chance to return before the end of the year.

Many speculated that he could potentially be an LTIR playoff addition for a contender, sitting out the whole regular season only to return at some point in the postseason. When the Minnesota Wild sent a fifth-round pick for him at the deadline, it seemed like that wasn’t even a guarantee, given the low cost.

Now, as Michael Russo of The Athletic reports, Nyquist could debut Saturday for the Wild after returning to full practice with the club. That’s quite an impressive addition for a fifth-round pick, given his long history of success in the NHL.

Nyquist, 33, had recorded at least 40 points in the previous eight seasons (save for one lost entirely to injury), including 53 last year. Given how much time he’s missed due to injury, he won’t reach that number this time around, but he’s still a solid middle-six player who can contribute on special teams.

In fact, his six shorthanded goals tie him for third in the league over the last two years, behind only Mitch Marner and Chris Kreider, who each have seven. For a Minnesota team still fighting for the top spot in the Central Division and in need of a little boost, it’s a perfect time for him to return.

Kaprizov, Nyquist Close To Returning

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The Minnesota Wild, already rolling near the top of the Western Conference, are set to get two key pieces into their rotation soon. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported today that both forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Gustav Nyquist could be options to return during their game next Saturday against the St. Louis Blues.

Head coach Dean Evason indicated further that only one of Kaprizov or Nyquist would play in the Saturday game, with the team opting to work both players back into the lineup slowly. The team has three games next week, including a back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday. Neither player will suit up for both of those games. When Nyquist does suit up, it will be his Minnesota debut after he was traded mid-recovery from a shoulder injury sustained with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kaprizov’s return would obviously be the more monumental of the two, although the Wild have still managed to string multiple wins together without their superstar winger.

Minnesota Wild Will Sign Mason Shaw This Summer

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Joe Smith of The Athletic is reporting that the Minnesota Wild intend to sign pending restricted free agent Mason Shaw to an extension this summer, despite his recent ACL tear. Shaw is expected to be out for eight to nine months after he was injured this past Saturday in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

For Shaw, this is the fourth time he’s torn an ACL in his young career. He’s had surgery three times already and will now need to go through it a fourth time. Smith reported that the feeling in the Wild dressing room was somber, with Shaw’s injury hitting his teammates hard.

By all accounts, Shaw is very popular within the Wild dressing room and has worked hard to get into the teams bottom six. Wild GM Bill Guerin said of Shaw’s contract, ““That won’t be something he’s going to have to worry about. We’ll figure something out. You don’t want to let go of guys like that.”

Minnesota is going to be in a tight cap crunch once again this summer with the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts accounting for nearly $15MM in cap space next year. While Shaw may not return in the 2023 calendar year, he should return in early 2024 barring any setbacks. Shaw’s qualifying offer this summer will be just $787.5K, meaning that even with a modest raise Minnesota shouldn’t have any issue offering him a contract, despite their precarious cap situation.

Kirill Kaprizov Skates For First Time Since March Injury

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The Vegas Golden Knights got some good news today as forward Reilly Smith practiced in a full-contact jersey, with head coach Bruce Cassidy indicating he’s on track to play in tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild. Smith had been sidelined with a lower-body injury since March 24, but he has been making progress in his recovery and is now ready to return to action.

  • While his recovery has been slightly slower than expected, Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov skated for the first time today since sustaining a leg injury in early March, according to The Athletic’s Joe Smith. He’s been sidelined for 11 games already and was originally expected to only miss four weeks. With that deadline looming this weekend, however, it’s unlikely he’ll make an on-time return to the lineup. The team has been able to find consistency in his absence, however, going 7-2-2 without Kaprizov in the lineup.

Mason Shaw Out For Season With Torn ACL

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The Minnesota Wild announced Monday that forward Mason Shaw will miss the rest of the 2022-23 season, including playoffs, with a torn ACL in his right knee. The injury occurred early in Saturday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights and ends the season of one of the most well-liked players in the Minnesota room.

As The Athletic’s Joe Smith notes, this is extremely concerning news for Shaw long-term. This is the second time he’s torn his ACL in that knee and the fourth time overall. Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin does expect Shaw to resume his NHL career, but the Wild will obviously be extremely cautious in returning him to game action next season. Shaw will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

The injury ends Shaw’s first season as a full-time NHLer, where he had recorded seven goals and 10 assists in 57 games as an important secondary piece in the bottom six. The 24-year-old was Minnesota’s 97th overall selection in the 2017 NHL Draft.

The impact of Shaw’s absence is buoyed by the impeding health of Gustav Nyquist, but it still means more responsibility will be required of other fourth-liners, such as Brandon Duhaime and Connor Dewar for the time being.

Wild Injury Notes: Klingberg, Duhaime, Reaves

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Joe Smith of The Athletic is reporting that John Klingberg will re-join the Minnesota Wild after missing the past three games with an upper body injury. Klingberg came over from the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline and has a goal and three assists in nine games since joining the Wild. Smith went onto say that it appears that Klingberg will serve in the top-4 and play alongside Jon Merrill. The Wild took five of a possible six points with Klingberg out of the lineup but will certainly welcome the offensive firepower that he adds to the backend.

Klingberg has had a nightmarish season thus far. He didn’t find that long term deal he was hoping for last summer in free agency and opted to bet on himself and sign in Anaheim for a single season. This move has largely been a failure as Klingberg struggled mightily with the Ducks notching just 24 points in 50 games. While he has struggled to this point in the season, he still has an opportunity to prove his worth with the Wild. Minnesota has had a tremendous season and with the acquisition of Klingberg, one has to assume that they see themselves as a contender to come out of a wide open Western Conference.

In other Wild injury news:

  • The Athletic’s Joe Smith is also reporting that winger Brandon Duhaime won’t play this evening due to an undisclosed illness. Duhaime is in his second season with the Wild and has nine points in 44 games, including eight goals. While Duhaime won’t fill the scoresheet, he does add an element of grit that the Minnesota will miss this evening when they do battle with their division rival. Duhaime is third on the team in hits with 126 hits on the season while averaging just over 10 minutes of ice time per game. The Wild sit one point up on Colorado for the division lead in the Central.
  • Speaking of grit, Ryan Reaves also won’t be dressing tonight as he will be sidelined with what is being described as an upper body injury. Reaves left the Wild’s 5-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Monday night and did not return. Little is known about Reaves injury, but with he and Duhaime on the shelf, it will make for a much easier night for Avalanche defensemen. Reaves is second on the Wild in hits this season with 134 hits in 54 games and has been an emotional catalyst for Minnesota since coming over from the New York Rangers in a mid-season trade. With Reaves and Duhaime out for tonight, and Kirill Kaprizov also sidelined, the Wild will be forced to play with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in a crucial game. Joe Smith tweeted that Alex Goligoski could take some shifts at forward to offset the injuries.

Snapshots: Three Stars, Scott, Potential GMs/Coaches

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The NHL announced its Three Stars of the Week for March 20 through March 26, with Viktor Arvidsson of the Los Angeles Kings earning the top spot. Arvidsson led the league with five goals and two assists, scoring in each of the three games he played. His performance helped the Kings extend their point streak to a franchise-record 12 games as they rocket up the Pacific Division standings.

Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki was named the Second Star after tallying eight points in three games. Suzuki’s four-point effort in an 8-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets was his first career four-point outing. The Third Star went to Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson, who posted a 2-0-0 record, a 0.96 goals-against average, and a .972 save percentage. Gustavsson’s 47-save performance in a 2-1 win of the New Jersey Devils was a career-high. The Wild have earned points in 12 of Gustavsson’s past 13 starts dating back to February 11. His excellence in goal for the Wild has helped them continue to climb the Central Division standings without the services of Kirill Kaprizov.

More from around the league this morning:

  • Dave Scott, the chairman and former CEO of the Philadelphia Flyers’ ownership group, Comcast-Spectacor, will be retiring from his positive effective April 17th. Comcast-Spectacor announced the news Monday, ending Scott’s 30-year time at the helm of Philadelphia’s ownership. Dan Hilferty, who was recently appointed as CEO of the company, will take over as chairman and assume both of Scott’s former roles, per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.
  • ESPN’s Emily Kaplan compiled a list of the top candidates for potential coaching and general manager vacancies, with a lot of familiar names near the tops of both lists. Former Florida Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant Spencer Carbery, and Seattle Kraken assistant Jay Leach made Kaplan’s “ready right now” tier for coaching vacancies, while former Sabres general manager Jason Botterill, Flyers interim GM Daniel Briere, and Lightning assistant GM Mathieu Darche made the “ready right now” tier for GM vacancies.

 

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