Feb 22, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing J.T. Compher (37) and Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) face off during the third period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Wild Place Joel Eriksson Ek on Injured Reserve

Minnesota loses key center as Eriksson Ek lands on IR, raising concerns for their postseason hopes.

The Minnesota Wild have suffered another setback as center Joel Eriksson Ek has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. He sustained the injury during practice, and while he’s officially listed as “week-to-week,” reports suggest he could be out for a much longer period. In response, the team has activated winger Jakub Lauko off injured reserve.

Minnesota is already struggling with injuries, as star forward Kirill Kaprizov remains out following lower-body surgery. Initially, Kaprizov was expected to return around the trade deadline, but now it looks like he won’t be back until late March at the earliest. Losing Eriksson Ek only makes things harder for the Wild as they push for a playoff spot. They currently hold a solid position in the standings, but with key players missing, the road ahead looks tougher. The upcoming schedule is a mixed bag—while only four of their next ten games are against teams in playoff spots, two of those are against the Colorado Avalanche, a direct competitor for their position in the Central Division.

Updated Joel Eriksson Ek story, by @JoeSmithNHL and mehttps://t.co/XMfwEkUg7A
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 25, 2025

Eriksson Ek has already dealt with multiple injuries this season, missing time in October with a nasal fracture and later sitting out 13 games due to previous lower-body issues. It’s unclear if his current injury is related, but it has affected his performance. He has 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) in 42 games so far, a noticeable drop from his back-to-back 60-point seasons, including a career-high 30 goals and 64 points last year.

With Eriksson Ek sidelined, Marco Rossi now steps into the role of Minnesota’s top center. The 23-year-old has been productive this season, tallying 20 goals and 29 assists, but he doesn’t bring the same defensive presence as Eriksson Ek. He’ll be relied upon even more now, especially since Ryan Hartman—who could have filled in at center—is also out for four games due to suspension. That leaves Minnesota with a thin group of centers, including Frédérick Gaudreau, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Jakub Lauko, who has barely played center in his NHL career.

As for Lauko, injuries have plagued his season too. The 24-year-old has dealt with a recurring lower-body issue, limiting him to just 33 games. His last appearance was on February 4, and he has only played 12 times since Thanksgiving. With so many key players missing, the Wild will need everyone to step up if they want to hold onto their playoff spot.

Image Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Joel Eriksson Ek

Minnesota Wild

NHL

Anamika Shrivastava

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