Minnesota Wild's captain, Jared Spurgeon, will not play the remainder of the 2023-24 NHL season. Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin made the announcement on Thursday, revealing that Spurgeon is scheduled for hip surgery on Feb. 6 and back surgery approximately four weeks afterward.
The Wild are optimistic that Spurgeon will be able to make a complete recovery before the commencement of Minnesota’s training camp in September.
The decision to place Spurgeon on the Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) list on Monday was necessitated by a string of injuries dating back to the beginning of January.
Previously, the right-handed defenseman got injured in the final preseason road game against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 5, causing him to miss the first 13 games of the season.
He returned in the Wild's loss to the Buffalo Sabres on November 10, but then faced another setback in December with a lower-body injury, missing seven more games. Despite returning on December 30, he played only three games in four days before getting sidelined again after a loss to the Calgary Flames on January 2.
Spurgeon's injury-prone season concludes with five assists and a +5 goal differential in 16 games, averaging 23 minutes and 19 seconds per game. Last season, racked up 34 points with 11 goals and 23 assists.
Injuries have plagued the Wild this season, contributing to their current seventh-place standing in the Central Division with a record of 18 wins, 20 losses, and five overtime losses. With Spurgeon out for the remainder of the season, the team’s chances of making it to the Stanley Cup may get even dimmer.
Spurgeon’s role
This season was Spurgeon's 14th season with the Wild, as the 34-year-old defenseman has been a mainstay in the Wild's lineup throughout his tenure. Spurgeon was selected by the New York Islanders in the 2008 NHL Draft, but has spent his entire professional career with Minnesota.
Having developed a reputation for being an elite defenseman, his tally of 384 points (110 goals and 274 assists) and 867 games places him fourth on the Wild’s all-time scoring list.
With Spurgeon out for the season, his absence will create a substantial void in the team's blue line. The team faces a challenging schedule ahead, including matchups against formidable opponents like Florida and Carolina in the remainder of their three-game road trip.
Although the void left by Spurgeon's absence poses a significant challenge for Minnesota's defense, it also creates an opportunity for emerging players to realize their leadership potential.
Shoring up the blue line
Without Spurgeon, the Wild will make their fifth straight playoff appearance without their captain.
Brock Faber, stepping into a larger role in Spurgeon's absence, has been averaging 24 minutes per game. A Calder Trophy candidate, it is likely that he and veteran Jonas Brodin will be called upon to shoulder more of Minnesota’s defensive responsibilities.
“It's going to be a great loss ... it's horrible, but at the same time we've got to step it up,” Faber said regarding Spurgeon’s injury and absence in upcoming games.
Meanwhile, Guerin may explore short-term options to temporarily replace Spurgeon without compromising their assets. Given the team’s playoff aspirations, they may look to trade for a pending unrestricted free agent defenseman to bolster their defense after losing one of their most important players.
With Spurgeon on long-term injured reserve, the Wild can now exceed their cap by around $7.57 million, which is Spurgeon’s annual average salary.