Wild’s Jared Spurgeon returns after four-game absence

Positive news for the Minnesota Wild as they continue their road trip through Western Canada.

The team activated captain Jared Spurgeon from injured reserve, making him available to be in the lineup on Thursday night, when the Wild visit the Calgary Flames.

It will be the veteran defenseman’s first action in four games. He was placed on IR with an upper-body injury on Sunday, retroactive to Oct. 12, when he helped the Wild pick up a win over the Vegas Golden Knights.

With Spurgeon out of the lineup, the Wild held firm, but weren’t amazing. They fell to the surprising Winnipeg Jets before beating the St. Louis Blues seven days ago. Then, after beating the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, Minnesota managed to rally from a 3-1 deficit to salvage a point against the Edmonton Oilers, only to lose in overtime.

In Minnesota’s first six games of the 2026-27 campaign, the 36-year-old scored a goal and four assists for five points, tied for fifth on the team in helpers. Spurgeon has a plus/minus of +4, while averaging 22:21 of ice time.

Staying in the lineup and out of the press box has been tough for Spurgeon throughout his NHL career. Only one of the Edmonton native’s 17 seasons saw him appear in every game, that coming during the 2018-19 campaign. He did play in 79 games last year, which came just two years after Spurgeon was limited to a mere 16 contests.

In 1.018 regular-season games in the NHL, Spurgeon has posted 124 goals and 319 assists for 443 points, with another 31 points in 84 Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

The Wild (6-2-2) are currently tied for first place in the Central Division with the Utah Mammoth.