Jonas Brodin Out Week-to-Week With Lower-Body Injury, Wild Turn to Youth as Spacek Debuts
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild are going to be without one of their most reliable defenders for the foreseeable future. Jonas Brodin, the team’s top shutdown defenseman, is officially listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury that’s been lingering for some time, head coach John Hynes confirmed Thursday.
This isn’t a sudden setback - it’s the result of a nagging issue that’s gradually worsened. Brodin missed four games in mid-December with what now appears to be a related injury, and while he’s tried to play through it, the Wild have decided it’s time to pull him from the lineup and gather more information.
“It didn’t happen in one game,” Hynes said. “It’s something that I think has been building up a little bit.”
That’s a blow for Minnesota, especially given Brodin’s importance on the blue line. He’s been a steady presence in 42 of the Wild’s 47 games this season, logging heavy minutes against top competition.
His game isn’t flashy, but it’s critical - positioning, stick work, and poise under pressure. And with the Olympics on the horizon, questions are starting to swirl about whether this latest injury could sideline him from Team Sweden’s roster.
Hynes wasn’t ready to go there just yet, saying the team needs more clarity before making any decisions.
In the meantime, the Wild are making moves. Ahead of Thursday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets at Grand Casino Arena, Minnesota called up 22-year-old defenseman David Spacek from AHL Iowa. The right-shot blueliner, acquired in a swap for Matt Kiersted, is set to make his NHL debut on the third pair alongside Daemon Hunt.
It’s a big moment for Spacek, who’s been quietly developing into a solid two-way option. The son of longtime NHL defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, David brings a calm, puck-moving presence to the ice.
He’s played three seasons in Iowa, racking up 10 goals and 62 points in 168 games. He was also a standout internationally, helping Czechia win gold at the 2024 World Championship and silver at the 2023 World Juniors.
“He’s played some solid hockey,” Hynes said. “He’s a good puck-moving defenseman. … He’s played an efficient game.”
Spacek’s debut comes at a time when the Wild need reinforcements. With Brodin out, Minnesota is elevating Jake Middleton to the second pair alongside Jared Spurgeon.
Zach Bogosian remains sidelined with a lower-body injury - specifically a foot issue - and will miss his fifth straight game. Though he skated earlier this week, he did not participate in Thursday’s session.
Still, Hynes noted that both Bogosian and injured center Joel Eriksson Ek will travel with the team on their upcoming road trip through Buffalo, Toronto, and Montreal.
The Wild’s lineup against the Jets reflects these changes:
Forward Lines:
- Kaprizov - Yurov - Zuccarello
- Johansson - Hartman - Boldy
- Foligno - Sturm - Tarasenko
- Trenin - Jones - Pitlick
Defense Pairings:
- Hughes - Faber
- Middleton - Spurgeon
- Hunt - Spacek
Vinnie Hinostroza was scratched for the game after a lengthy conversation with Hynes before the morning skate.
As for Brodin, this latest injury adds to a growing list of physical setbacks. He played through multiple ailments last season, including a shoulder injury that ultimately required surgery in June after he aggravated it during the World Championship.
The Wild had tried to convince him to skip the tournament, but Brodin suited up for Sweden and paid the price. That surgery cost him most of training camp and the season opener.
Now, with the Olympics looming, Minnesota may once again find itself in a familiar situation - weighing Brodin’s desire to represent his country against the long-term health of one of their most important players.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Hynes said. “That’d be between Billy (Guerin) and Jonas.
Right now, we’ll just see where he’s at and exactly what it is. There needs to be more things looked at in order for us to get to that point.
Maybe he’s ready before the Olympics; maybe he’s not.”
If Brodin isn’t cleared in time, Sweden has options. Veteran blueliners like Mattias Ekholm, Hampus Lindholm, and Simon Edvinsson are all waiting in the wings, any of whom could step into that Olympic spot if needed.
But for now, the Wild are focused on the task at hand - keeping pace in the playoff race while leaning on their depth. And for David Spacek, it’s a chance to show he belongs on the NHL stage.