Minnesota Wild forward Mats Zuccarello recently underwent surgery for a lower-body injury and has been placed on injured reserve. As a result, he is expected to miss 3-4 weeks of action. The injury occurred during Thursday night’s game against Montreal when he was hit by a shot from his teammate Brock Faber.
Wild coach John Hynes expressed his disappointment at losing such a crucial player, highlighting Zuccarello’s veteran experience, competitiveness, hockey sense, and value on the power play. Zuccarello has been a key player for the team this season, tallying 14 points in 16 games. His chemistry with left wing Kirill Kaprizov has been particularly noteworthy.
Despite this setback, Hynes remains optimistic about Zuccarello’s return, acknowledging his resilience and talent. Zuccarello, who is in his 15th NHL season, has amassed an impressive 650 points throughout his career with the New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Wild.
The team will undoubtedly feel the absence of Zuccarello on the ice, but they are hopeful that he will make a full recovery and return to form once he is back in action. In the meantime, the Wild will need to rely on other players to step up and fill the void left by Zuccarello’s absence. The upcoming games will be a test of the team’s depth and resilience as they look to maintain their momentum in the league standings.