It doesn't sound like the Minnesota Wild will have to weather the injury storm much longer.
Knock on wood, but head coach John Hynes on Monday said forward Kirill Kaprizov, defenseman Jonas Brodin and goalie Filip Gustavsson have moved to the "on-ice portion of their recovery" and are "progressing as planned."
Kaprizov reportedly suffered broken ribs when he was cross-checked in his back in Minnesota's Dec. 28 game in Winnipeg. Gustavsson suffered a lower-body injury that same game, while Brodin hasn't played since suffering a right arm injury Dec. 8 against Edmonton.
"I don't have a timeline on it but [Kaprizov, Brodin and Gustavsson] are skating and that's kind of the next phase. When you're in that phase it's similar to just what's the next progression, is it practice, is it ready to play, is it contact? But they're all on the ice skating and progressing as planned," Hynes elaborated.
Marcus Foligno, who missed the last two games with an injury, will be back in the lineup Monday night when the Wild face the Dallas Stars. Nic Petan will be out of the lineup with Foligno back in, Hynes said.
Mats Zuccarello returned to the lineup Saturday against Columbus after missing nine games with a broken arm.
Meanwhile, future Wild goalie Jesper Wallstadt is up with the team after being promoted from the AHL Iowa Wild. Marc-Andre Fleury will make his sixth straight start Monday against Dallas but there appears to be a chance that Wallstadt will make his NHL debut later this week.
"It's to be determined," Hynes said of his goalie plan. "I think we'll just play it out day to day."
Minnesota plays at Dallas on Wednesday before starting a three game homestand Friday against Phoenix.
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