It is that time of year where the NHL schedule starts to feel like a meat grinder. For the Minnesota Wild, the trainer's room is looking a bit too crowded for comfort lately. If you’ve been watching the games over the last week, you’ve probably noticed some unfamiliar faces or seen Ryan Hartman taking shifts he normally wouldn’t.
Basically, the roster is in a state of flux.
The Minnesota Wild injured list has been a revolving door this season, and as of mid-January 2026, the team is dealing with some significant holes down the middle and on the blue line. Keeping track of who is "day-to-day" versus who is actually on "Injured Reserve" (IR) is basically a full-time job for fans right now.
The Big Names Currently Sidelined
Right now, the most glaring absence is Joel Eriksson Ek. He’s the engine of the team's defensive forward play. He left the game on January 8th with what the team is calling a lower-body injury. Honestly, "lower-body injury" is the most vague term in sports, but for a guy like Eriksson Ek who lives in the "dirty areas" in front of the net, it’s usually something related to a blocked shot or a nasty scrum. He’s been listed as day-to-day, but he already missed the recent tilt against the Devils. When he’s out, the Wild lose their best penalty killer and a guy who can frustrate the opposing team's top stars.
Then there is Zach Bogosian. The veteran defenseman was officially placed on Injured Reserve on January 10th. Bogosian has been battling an undisclosed issue that cropped up around January 5th. Since he’s on IR, he’s technically out for at least a week, and the latest word is that he might be ready by the time the team hits Buffalo this weekend.
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Wait. There's more.
David Jiricek and Marcus Johansson both dealt with lower-body issues recently. Johansson’s speed is a massive part of the secondary scoring, and when he’s hobbled, the second line tends to lose its North-South identity.
Why the Blue Line is So Thin
The Wild’s defensive depth is being tested in a way that feels a little unfair. Earlier this winter, the team pulled off a blockbuster, landing Quinn Hughes from Vancouver. It was a massive swing by the front office, but it cost them a lot of depth, including Marco Rossi and Zeev Buium.
While Hughes is a superstar, he can’t play 60 minutes.
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With Bogosian on IR and Jonas Brodin frequently popping up on the Minnesota Wild injured list with various lower-body ailments (he missed time in December and has been managed carefully since), the team has had to lean heavily on the kids.
Enter David Spacek.
Spacek was just recalled from AHL Iowa on Wednesday. He hasn’t actually made his NHL debut yet, despite being called up a few times this season. The fact that the Wild are carrying seven defensemen right now suggests they aren't 100% sure about the health of someone on the active roster. Daemon Hunt is back from his own IR stint, but he’s still getting his legs under him, averaging only about 12 minutes of ice time.
A Look at the Season-Long Trend
If you look back at the 2025-2026 injury logs, it's kind of a miracle the Wild are sitting 3rd in the Central. They’ve had:
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- Mats Zuccarello on IR for back issues.
- Nico Sturm out with upper-body and back problems.
- Jake Middleton missing a 10-game stretch.
- Jared Spurgeon missing time after a slew foot back in December.
It’s been a "next man up" mentality, but eventually, you run out of men.
The recent return of Vinnie Hinostroza and Marcus Foligno has helped stabilize things, but the loss of Eriksson Ek really hurts the center depth. You’ve got Ryan Hartman stepping up, and he’s been great lately—scoring three goals in four games—but he’s better suited as a wing or a third-line center than a top-six replacement for Ek.
What This Means for the Next Few Games
The Wild are hosting the Winnipeg Jets tonight. The Jets have their own injury problems—Neal Pionk is on IR—but they are a heavy, physical team. Without Eriksson Ek to match up against the Jets' top line, head coach John Hynes is going to have to get creative with his line matching.
Keep an eye on the "game-time decisions." In the NHL, a player can go from "day-to-day" to "starting" in the span of a morning skate.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Check the Morning Skate: Always look for beat writers' reports around 10:30 AM on game days. If a player on the Minnesota Wild injured list is wearing a "non-contact" jersey (usually red or white), they aren't playing.
- Watch the Roster Moves: The recall of David Spacek is a huge hint. It usually means someone on the blue line is "questionable."
- Fantasy Hockey Tip: If you have Joel Eriksson Ek, keep him on your bench but don't drop him. He’s a fast healer and the "day-to-day" tag is usually accurate for him. In the meantime, Ryan Hartman is a great short-term add while he’s getting top-line minutes.
The Wild have the talent to weather this storm, especially with Quinn Hughes anchoring the power play, but they need their health back before the playoff race truly ignites in February.