The Minnesota Wild have been stacking up wins and injuries at about the same rate to start the 2026-27 season. Brock Faber, Filip Gustavsson and Nick Foligno are all on injured reserve, and Olli Maatta was a late scratch in Tampa Bay last week.
Then Monday, the Wild’s injury list got even longer. Prior to puch drop against the Golden Knights, Minnesota placed Marcus Foligno on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 8. The Athletic’s Michael Russo described it as a “mid-body” injury. The Wild listed it as lower-body.
Foligno was expected to miss his second straight game after he wasn’t present during morning skate Monday morning. Hours later (5 p.m. CDT), the bad news dropped. In Foligno’s place, Minnesota once again recalled forward Tyler Pitlick from Iowa.
We have recalled forward Tyler Pitlick from the Iowa Wild. In addition, forward Marcus Foligno has been placed on Injured Reserve.
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 12, 2026
Full details » https://t.co/fijYqsnbnVhttps://t.co/LAomaz2djI
Nico Sturm takes puck to ear hole just like Brock Faber
Fortunately, the Minnesota Wild came out of the gates hot on Monday night against Vegas. Matt Boldy, Maxim Shabanov and Danila Yurov scored in a span of 5:07 in the first period, and Minnesota took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.
Unfortunately, they were hit by another injury, and a familiar one at that.
Late in the first period, Jared Spurgeon fired a high wrist shot from right of the Vegas net that wound up in the right ear hole of Nico Sturm, who dropped to the ice before needing assistance skating off. It was scarily similar to what happened to Brock Faber during Minnesota’s final preseason game.
Scary moment as Nico Sturm takes a puck to the side of the head and needs assistance getting off the ice 🤕 https://t.co/sJGuLWeXqZ
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 12, 2026
Sturm played 3:20 over five shifts in the first period. It didn’t take long for the MN Wild to rule him out for the rest of the game, after he left the ice.
Brock Faber spotted in Wild press box
Faber was hit by a deflected Miro Heiskanen shot back on September 25 in an exhibition game against the Dallas Stars. GM Bill Guerin revealed four days later that Faber had fractured his skull.
The homegrown defenseman still hasn’t played this season, and the team hasn’t given a timetable for his return. However, Russo reported Monday night that Faber made an appearance in the press box tonight.
Brock Faber sighting in the press box
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) October 13, 2026
Related: MN Wild Recall Another Veteran Forward with Nick Foligno Banged Up
It’s the first reported sighting of Minnesota’s homegrown defenseman since he suffered his injury, and by far the best news to be made public to this point. That’s the most important update on Faber tonight.
But while Brock may be feeling better, because this is a head injury, it doesn’t mean he’s closing in on a return. We’ll have to continue our wait for news on that front.
Should MN Wild players be required to wear ear guards?
Two pucks to the side of the head in less than three weeks raises an obvious question. Why aren’t more players wearing ear guards? The clear plastic pieces snap onto the sides of the helmet and cover the ear and the area around it, which is exactly where both Faber and Sturm got hit.
They aren’t required, though. The NHL rulebook only mandates a league-approved helmet, plus a visor for players who entered the league in 2013-14 or later. New this season, players making their NHL debut must also wear cut-resistant neck protection.
For now, ear guards are left up to the player, and most go without them — either for comfort, hearing on the ice, or simply how they look. Faber’s injury did change a few minds in the Wild locker room.
The Wild (entire NHL but I'm not going to get pushy) should be mandated to wear ear pieces on their helmets.
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 12, 2026
I saw Spurgeon wearing them earlier this season for sure. Just seems like a no-brainer. Sturm was not wearing them tonight.
Jared Spurgeon told Michael Russo in an article at The Athletic that he added ear guards at practice the day the Wild announced Faber’s skull surgery. Quinn Hughes said he was considering them, as well.
Sturm wasn’t wearing them Monday night.
Nobody wants to see a third Wild player go through this before something changes. Here’s hoping Sturm’s injury is nothing close to what Faber has dealt with.