Joel Eriksson Ek of the Minnesota Wild is headed for core muscle surgery next week, adding one more chapter to what’s been a really tough year for the 28-year-old center.
"I’ll be ready for training camp," Eriksson Ek told reporters during his end-of-season media session. The news was first reported by Michael Russo of The Athletic.
It’s been that kind of season for the Swedish forward, who missed 22 games between February and April with various injuries. He even played through a broken nose at one point.
Despite all the setbacks, Eriksson Ek still managed to put up impressive numbers when he was on the ice. In just 46 games – his lowest total ever – he scored 14 goals and added 15 assists.
That’s pretty remarkable when you do the math. If he’d stayed healthy all year, he was on pace for 25 goals and 52 points.
The silver lining? His absence gave Marco Rossi a chance to shine. The young center stepped up big time, scoring 24 goals and racking up 60 points while playing every single game this season.
Rossi was especially hot when Eriksson Ek was out. From December through March, he put up 36 points in 51 games – second only to Matt Boldy’s 39 points during that stretch.
The Wild might finally have something special brewing down the middle. When healthy, Eriksson Ek has shown he can be a reliable 20-goal scorer who’s also great on defense. He’s been hitting those numbers (or was on pace to) for five straight seasons now.
At $5.25 million per year through 2028, he’s also on a team-friendly deal. But first things first – getting back to full strength for next season.
And if both centers can stay healthy? The Wild’s future down the middle looks brighter than ever.
