Very Positive Update on Wild Captain Jared Spurgeon's Timeline For Return

The Minnesota Wild could be this close to finally seeing their captain and top defenseman make his season debut. Jared Spurgeon has been recovering from a lower-body injury that he suffered during the preseason. He's been considered week-to-week, but that week may certainly be this coming one.

Jared Spurgeon here for #mnwild practice. Have to think he’s close to returning. Possibly on this trip to NY. pic.twitter.com/JNRLGvdmx5
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) November 5, 2023

The Wild staged a 3-on-3 practice for fans on Sunday, and Spurgeon was able to play in that, raising hopes that his return is imminent.

The Captain will travel with the Wild on their road trip through New York beginning on Tuesday against the NY Islanders, Thursday in Manhattan against the NY Rangers and then the Buffalo Sabres upstate on Friday. Beat writer Joe Smith covers the Wild for the Athletic, and figures that a Spurgeon return should happen during this trip.

Head coach Dean Evason was still being evasive about committing to anything, however. "Obviously, he's progressing to the point he can be out there playing this (but) he's still not in contract drills, so we'll see how he progresses... We'll obviously have to evaluate day by day."

Minnesota already got a boost last week with the return of 30-goal scorer Matt Boldy; adding a top defenseman and team leader like Spurgeon could certainly help them get out of their season-opening funk. A shootout win over the Rangers Saturday night finally snapped a four-game losing streak, leaving the Wild at 4-5-2 on the season.

Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports