Minnesota Wild Lose Mats Zuccarello For Extended Period After Painful Injury

It was tough to watch for any man, much less a hockey player. Minnnesota Wild forward Mats Zuccarello has undergone surgery after blocking a hard shot from the point, in the most sensitive of spots. 

Mats Zuccarello will miss at least "three-to-four weeks" after undergoing surgery for a lower body injury during Thursday's game vs. Montreal pic.twitter.com/PTJGS7BvqD

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 15, 2024

The puck hit Zuccharello right in the groin area, and required surgery soon after the game. He's expected to miss at least three to four weeks. 

Hockey injury expert Dr. Harjas Grewal was immediately concerned by the nature of the injury, and speculated on potential issues that could have led to the urgent surgery.

Really hope Zuccarello was wearing a cup and he’s ok

Otherwise concern for testicular rupture and multiple weeks out

Other organs along with blood vessels nerves etc in the region as well so multitude of other injuries cannot be excluded https://t.co/rcKqwTSiQL

— Dr. Harjas Grewal (@Harjas_Grewal) November 15, 2024

The 37-year-old has been a key member of one of the NHL's top lines this season alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Marco Rossi.  Zuccharello, who's been close to a point-per-game player over the last three seasons for the Wild, is right there again this year, with 14 points in 16 games, with a plus/minus rating of +6. 

Zuccarello signed a two-year, $8.25 million extension a year ago, that just kicked in this season.