Just a week before they’re set to open their 2023-24 season, the Wild suffered a serious setback with captain Jared Spurgeon listed as week-to-week with an upper body injury.
Spurgeon left the Wild’s fifth preseason game with just 59 seconds left in the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday, after Blackhawks forward Reese Johnson checked the Wild defenseman into the boards.
The 33-year-old missed just three games last season for the Wild, scoring 11 goals and providing 23 assists.
Minnesota wraps up the preseason schedule Saturday in St. Paul against the Stars, with the regular season opener next Thursday at home against the Florida Panthers.
Reese Johnson was involved in more action on Thursday night when he dropped the gloves for a scrap with the Wild’s Connor Dewar.
Connor Dewar hits Reese Johnson, who pops back up and invites him to drop the gloves. Good scrap. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/wjkQyIqao7
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 6, 2023
