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Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek practice, but won't return for Wild on road trip

Originally posted on Bring Me The News | Last updated Mar 30, 2025 3:49 PM ET

The Minnesota Wild placed forwards Devin Shore and Brendan Gaunce on waivers on Sunday, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo. The move could be in anticipation of the potential returns of Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek, though neither forward is expected to return on the upcoming road trip, coach John Hynes said on Sunday.

According to Russo, if Shore and Gaunce clear waivers, they will remain with the Wild until Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek are ready. He also noted it gives the Wild flexibility to sign Denver defensemen Zeev Buium, whom they selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft, after Denver's NCAA Tournament run comes to an end.

#mnwild have placed Devin Shore and Brendan Gaunce on waivers. If they clear Monday, both forwards will stay on roster for now. But this gives the Wild flexibility to clear space once Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek return and Zeev Buium is signed
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 30, 2025

Both Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek practiced on Sunday. Hynes told reporters that both players will make the trip to New Jersey for Monday night's game against the New Jersey Devils, but for Kaprizov, that's mainly for a check-up doctor's appointment.

Hynes expects to know more about Kaprizov's timeline after the appointment. The expectation remains that both Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek will return before the end of the regular season, but not during the three-game road trip that begins Monday. They have games at the New York Rangers Wednesday and at the N.Y. Islanders on Friday.

That would leave a five-game window for the duo to return. The Wild host the Dallas Stars on April 6 and the San Jose Sharks on April 9; they visit the Calgary Flames on April 11 and the Vancouver Canucks on April 12; and they close the regular season at home against the Anaheim Ducks on April 15. It's a short window before the playoffs.

Assuming Shore and Gaunce clear waivers, they'll remain with the team for now. Shore has played in 51 games for the Wild this season, tallying five points (1 goal, 4 assists), while Gaunce has skated in 12 games for Minnesota, recording one assist.

But the returns of Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek appear to be right around the corner, just not in the next three games.

This article first appeared on Bring Me The News and was syndicated with permission.

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