Minnesota Wild announced on Thursday that the team’s captain, Jared Spurgeon, will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 NHL season. Spurgeon is dealing with a hip surgery that will require him to undergo surgery.
Spurgeon is expected to recover in time for the training camp ahead of the next season, according to the team statement.
Spurgeon has been frequently sidelined this season while also dealing with a shoulder injury. The 34-year-old defenseman will end his campaign with 16 games and five points.
The Wild placed Spurgeon on a long-term injury reserve, which means that his $7.575 million salary won’t count against their salary cap anymore. This will allow the team to bring in one or two players who can make an immediate impact and improve their depth on the blue line.
The Wild is in the midst of a disappointing season that sees them sitting 7th in the Central Division with an 18-20-5 record. They have particularly struggled without Spurgeon, losing five out of seven games since the 34-year-old went down.
Jared Spurgeon spent all of his 14 years in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild. In 867 games with the franchise, Spurgeon scored 110 goals and added 274 assists for a total of 384 points.
