Wild expect Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek to return in regular season

The Minnesota Wild expect star winger Kirill Kaprizov and top center Joel Eriksson Ek to return before the end of the regular season, general manager Bill Guerin told reporters before Sunday's game against the Boston Bruins at the X in St. Paul, Minn. 

Both Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek are currently on injured reserve with lower-body injuries, but Guerin is making moves with the expectation that both will be able to return before season's end, likely ruling out the long-term injured reserve for either. 

The move to trade with the Nashville Predators for forward Gustav Nyquist was in line with that expectation. The Predators ate half of Nyquist's contract, leaving just enough cap space to allow for Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek's returns in the regular season. That being said, Guerin does not have a timetable on when either player could come back.

"I don't know. Like you said, there's no exact science. I can't tell you because what I tell you today might change tomorrow," Guerin told reporters. "Things change constantly. It's not like I'm gonna say, 'Oh, he's gonna be back 17 days from now.' And if he's not back 17 days from now, you guys are gonna be like, 'What happened?' 

"So I don't know. I just don't know." 

Kaprizov hasn't played since Jan. 26 against the Chicago Blackhawks. He underwent surgery for his lower-body injury in late January and was expected to be out at least four weeks, but Guerin previously said Kaprizov could be out longer than expected. Even now, Kaprizov is still tied for the team lead with 52 points (23 goals, 29 assists). 

Eriksson Ek last played on Feb. 22 against the Detroit Red Wings and was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. He reportedly could miss significantly more time than the required week on injured reserve. He has 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) this season. 

The Wild reunited with Nyquist on Saturday by acquiring him from the Predators. Nyquist previously played three games for the Wild during the 2022-23 season, and he has 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists) in 57 games for Nashville this season. 

"He fits," Guerin said. 

Guerin also announced that defenseman Jonas Brodin will be week to week with a lower-body injury. Brodin is still expected to return this season. As for any other moves the Wild might make before Friday's trade deadline, Guerin said they'd likely need to be "penny in, penny out" as the team tries to conserve cap space for the potential returns of Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek. But he noted things can always change.