The Minnesota Wild are 5-2-1 heading into tonight’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, fresh off their latest victory Thursday, over the Central division rival Blues.
In case you’ve been trying to forget, Kirill Kaprizov was knocked out of that game by Joel Hofer’s illegal hit. We are still waiting to find out if Minnesota’s Russian superstar is playing tonight.
Kaprizov’s injury status is only the tip of the iceberg, of course. The Wild have been playing without a handful of key players for much of the season. That list includes captain Jared Spurgeon, who’s been dealing with an upper-body injury and hasn’t played since Oct. 12 against Vegas.
Minnesota’s 36-year-old defenseman was back at practice Friday, paired with Jonas Brodin. However, head coach John Hynes said at the time that Spurgeon wasn’t ready for the Columbus game.
Minnesota Wild place Jared Spurgeon on injured reserve
Then on Sunday, about four hours before puck drop against the Blue Jackets, Spurgeon was placed on injured reserve. For tonight, Minnesota has recalled forward Hunter Haight and defenseman Carson Lambos from the Iowa Wild.
We have recalled forward Hunter Haight and defenseman Carson Lambos from the Iowa Wild. The team also placed defenseman Jared Spurgeon on Injured Reserve.
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 18, 2026
Read more » https://t.co/Y2022MJ1pDpic.twitter.com/1lbqsCITOf
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The IR placement doesn’t mean there’s been a setback or change of plans for Spurgeon, after he returned to practice this weekend. Instead, according to Michael Russo (The Athletic), Spurgeon’s IR designation will be retroactive, allowing him to return as early as Tuesday, in his hometown of Edmonton.
Wild recall Hunter Haight and Carson Lambos to provide insurance tonight with no extra forwards or D on roster. Jared Spurgeon is placed on IR but can come off as early as Tuesday’s game in hometown Edmonton
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) October 18, 2026
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Spurgeon had one goal and four assists with a plus-4 rating in his six games before the injury. He was averaging 22:22 TOI, which ranks second among Wild defensemen behind only Quinn Hughes (26:44).
With Spurgeon out Thursday in Winnipeg, David Spacek took his spot on the second power-play unit. The blue line is also thin behind him. Brock Faber is still out after taking a puck to the head and Olli Maatta did not practice Friday, per Joe Smith (The Athletic).
Hunter Haight and Carson Lambos
Haight, 22, has three goals (leads Iowa) and two assists in six games with Iowa this season. The Wild took him in the second round (47th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. He scored one goal and added one assist in nine NHL games last season.
Lambos, 23, has a goal and an assist in six games with Iowa and ranks second on the team with 15 shots. This is his second recall in four days. The Wild called him up as insurance Thursday, but he did not play, and sent him back to Iowa Friday.
The 2021 first-round pick (26th overall) has only one NHL game on his resume, which came at Columbus on Dec. 18, 2025. He played 10:16.