Wild's Playoff Hopes Derailed by Foot Injuries

Defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek missed Minnesota’s second-round series versus the Colorado Avalanche after sustaining broken bones in their right feet during the first-round matchup with Dallas. Brodin fractured his big toe; Eriksson Ek broke his heel bone. Both required surgery or limited practice, keeping them out of all five games against Colorado.

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In Game 5 of the first round versus Dallas, Brodin blocked a shot, fracturing his right big toe and requiring surgery, causing him to miss the clinching win. Two days later, in Game 6, Eriksson Ek broke his right heel bone; he practiced limitedly before Game 3 of the Colorado series but could not push off the foot.

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Jonas Brodin, in his 14th NHL season, has spent his entire career with Minnesota and missed the Olympics after surgery on a prior lower-body injury kept him from representing Sweden. Joel Eriksson Ek, in his 10th season, is also a lifelong Wild player, noted for two-way play and face-off skill.

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• Game 5 (First Round, vs. Dallas): Brodin fractures right big toe.

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• Game 6 (First Round, vs. Dallas): Eriksson Ek breaks right heel.

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• Post-Game 6: Brodin undergoes surgery; Eriksson Ek begins limited practice.

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• Game 3 (Second Round, vs. Colorado): Eriksson Ek practices but cannot play.

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• Games 1-5 (Second Round, vs. Colorado): Both absent; Wild lose 4-3 in overtime, eliminated in Denver.

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The Wild lost five straight games without Brodin and Eriksson Ek, ending with a 4-3 overtime defeat. Colorado entered the series as the league’s top regular-season team.

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Brodin’s defensive skill and Eriksson Ek’s offensive contributions were noted as missing against Colorado’s high-scoring attack. Their absence reduced the Wild’s physical presence and depth, contributing to the overtime loss that eliminated Minnesota.

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Brodin called missing the playoffs “awful,” citing the frustration of a year that also cost him an Olympic spot, and urged staying positive for next season. Eriksson Ek said his foot pain made skating impossible, confirming his inability to contribute.

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• “It's awful to not play in the playoffs,” — Jonas Brodin, Defenseman, Minnesota Wild

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• “It's a frustrating year. We've got to stay positive and come back stronger next year,” — Jonas Brodin, Defenseman, Minnesota Wild

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• “You want to play,” — Joel Eriksson Ek, Center, Minnesota Wild

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• “I just couldn't do it. Too painful to skate.” — Joel Eriksson Ek, Center, Minnesota Wild

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Both players aim to recover and return next season, and the Wild must address the depth gaps revealed by the injuries as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.

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