Veteran forward Mats Zuccarello has begun Minnesota Wild training camp limited to light activity due to an injury, the full nature of which currently remains undisclosed. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported today that Zuccarello has an appointment on Monday that will “determine surgery vs no surgery,” according to Wild head coach John Hynes. Zuccarello is already slated to miss the start of the regular season per prior reporting from Russo, but depending on the medical opinion received tomorrow, the absence could conceivably extend quite a bit.
The loss of Zuccarello, 38, would be a major one for a Wild team entering a potentially franchise-altering regular season. Franchise face Kirill Kaprizov is a pending UFA and while the club has been vocal in its willingness to do pretty much anything in order to secure Kaprizov’s signature on an extension, Kaprizov has thus far appeared hesitant to commit the future of his playing prime to Minnesota. The best thing the Wild can do to convince Kaprizov is likely to win as much, and as early, as possible – something that will be made more difficult by any extended Zuccarello absence. Zuccarello scored 19 goals and 54 points in 69 games last season, and in his absence his lineup spot has been filled by 2022 first-rounder Liam Ohgren, who has reportedly had an impressive start to camp.
Some other notes from across the NHL:
- TSN’s Salim Nadim Valji reported today that Calgary Flames 2024 first-round pick Matvei Gridin is currently taking reps on the club’s top power play unit, alongside MacKenzie Weegar, Connor Zary, Nazem Kadri, and Matt Coronato. While it’s unlikely that Gridin ultimately settles into that role in the immediate term, it does shed some light on how the organization might view Gridin’s long-term future. The 19-year-old Russian winger is a skilled offensive creator who scored 36 goals and 79 points in 56 games for the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes last season. He could end up a long-term power play weapon for the Flames if he can continue his development in 2025-26.
- With Nikolaj Ehlers’ offseason departure, the Winnipeg Jets lost 24 goals and 63 points of production to the Carolina Hurricanes. One of the areas where Ehlers was particularly lethal was on the man advantage, and with his departure, a spot on the Jets’ top unit has opened up. The Athletic’s Murat Ates reports from Winnipeg training camp that young forward Cole Perfetti is “first in line” to replace Ehlers on the Jets’ top unit. Perfetti filled in for Ehlers on that unit when Ehlers was injured last season, so he should be able to hit the ground running. It’s a big year for Perfetti, who scored a career-high 50 points last season. He’s a pending restricted free agent and likely due for a notable raise from the $3.25MM cap hit he’s playing out his current deal on.
Kaprizov has NO Interest in staying with the Wild beyond July 1st 2026, And, Unless the Wild deal with it quickly, And appropriately, The more the situation will be a big distraction, Guerin has to swing a huge deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.