Wild's Joel Eriksson Ek Placed on Injured Reserve

Joel Eriksson Ek of the Minnesota Wild has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury sustained during practice, marking a significant setback for the team already dealing with multiple injuries. He is expected to miss at least the next four games, but sources indicate that his absence may extend beyond that. The Wild are also without star forward Kirill Kaprizov, who is recovering from surgery and is expected to be out longer than initially anticipated. Eriksson Ek has contributed 24 points this season and is a key player for the team, having played 42 games so far. With the season winding down and only 25 games left, the Wild are trying to maintain their playoff position amidst these challenges. Jakub Lauko is likely to be activated off injured reserve to help fill the gap left by Eriksson Ek's absence.