Defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek were unable to play for Minnesota in the second-round series against Colorado because of broken bones in their feet, the report says. The pair revealed the injuries in season-ending interviews Friday and watched the Wild’s elimination — a 4-3 overtime loss in Denver — on television, the report says.
The report says Brodin suffered a fracture in the big toe of his right foot when he blocked a shot in Game 5 of the Wild’s first-round series against Dallas. That injury required surgery and forced him to miss the clinching win over the Stars and all five games against the Avalanche, the report says. Brodin finished his 14th season in the NHL, all with the Wild, and said, “It’s awful to not play in the playoffs. Best time of the year,” per the report.
Eriksson Ek, who completed his 10th season in the NHL, all with Minnesota, broke the heel bone in his right foot in Game 6 against Dallas, the report says. He skated on a limited basis in practice before Game 3 against Colorado but said he could not fully push off the foot on the ice. “You want to play,” Eriksson Ek said. “I just couldn’t do it. Too painful to skate,” according to the report.
The report says Minnesota missed the veterans’ defensive acumen, physical presence and playoff experience against the high-scoring Avalanche, who had the best regular-season record in the league. Brodin also missed the Olympics earlier this year when surgery on an earlier lower-body injury kept him from playing for Sweden, the report says.
With the Wild eliminated, the report says Brodin had been aiming to return at the end of the conference finals if the team advanced. He described the season as frustrating and added, “We’ve got to stay positive and come back stronger next year,” per the report.
