Greenway's return should be big boost for Wild

Are the Minnesota Wild about to be full strength for the first time this season? It appears there's a chance because the big rig himself Jordan Greenway was skating alongside Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno at Wednesday's morning skate. 

Greenway, Eriksson Ek and Foligno form the vaunted GREEF line that caused big problems for opponents last season, but they haven't played together yet in 2022 because Greenway has been recovering from an upper-body injury and offseason surgery. 

If the practice lines Wednesday morning are what the Wild will roll out Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks, then it'll mark the return of Greenway for the first time since last year's playoff series loss to the St. Louis Blues. 

His return would also stabilize the moving and shaking of the other lines. 

According to beat reporters at the Wild's morning skate, the four lines featured: 

• L1: Ryan Hartman centering Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello
• L2: Joel Eriksson Ek centering Jordan Greenway and Marcus Foligno
• L3: Marco Rossi in the middle of Matt Boldy and Freddie Gaudreau
• L4: Tyson Jost centering Sam Steel and Brandon Duhaime 

Greenway was cleared for full contact on Oct. 12 but was still considered a ways away from playing, but maybe the 0-3 start and 20 goals allowed has sped up his timeline. 

Head coach Dean Evason is expected to speak after practice Wednesday, which should provide more definitive information about Greenway's status.