Jared Spurgeon returns to Wild practice

The team captain has been sidelined by issues related to his recovery from winter surgeries.

By John Shipley, Pioneer Press – October 25, 2024

Defenseman Jared Spurgeon practiced with the Wild on Friday in Philadelphia, his first since he was sidelined after two regular-season games.

The team captain was flown to Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon to meet the team after its 4-2 victory at Tampa Bay. The Wild have started the season with a seven-game points streak (5-0-2) and were second in the Western Conference to Winnipeg with 12 points ahead of Friday night’s games.

Spurgeon is unlikely to play in Saturday afternoon’s game against the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center but general manager Bill Guerin said Friday on WCCO Radio that he could be back for Tuesday night’s game at Pittsburgh.

“I don’t know, he could. I hope so,” Guerin told Chad Hartman after being asked if Spurgeon could return against the Penguins. “These are funny things; you feel great one day and not the next. So, I don’t know. I hope he does. We’ll see.”

Spurgeon has been sidelined by issues related to his recovery from hip and back surgery last winter.

The Wild are 4-0-1 on the road, all over the past five games, the best road start in franchise history. The Flyers will bring a 1-5-1 record into Saturday’s noon CDT start.

“There’s no easy games in this league. It doesn’t matter if you’ve won a few or you’ve lost a few,” head coach John Hynes told Kevin Gorg after Friday’s practice in Philadelphia. “We reset to go to the next game.”

Fleury set for Pittsburgh

Guerin also told Hartman that Marc-Andre Fleury, in goal for Thursday’s win at Tampa Bay, will start Tuesday at Pittsburgh, where he started his NHL career and was part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams.

“He’s gonna play, and I think it’s going to be emotional for him,” the GM told Hartman. “He’s going to focus in on the game, and I think he’s gonna play awesome.”

Fleury is playing his 21st and last NHL season after signing a one-year, $2 million extension. He did not play at PPG Paints Arena last season, inspiring the crowd to call him to replace Filip Gustavsson during a 4-3 Wild loss.

“One thing he likes to do is get the best of his buddies, and I hope he does that” with a victory, Guerin said.