Firstov has been reassigned to Iowa (AHL) from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL).
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Minnesota Wild News
Aube-Kubel is listed as a scratch for Thursday's game in Seattle.
Aube-Kubel will be the odd-man out on Thursday as the Capitals look to get fresh legs in the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Aliaksei Protas will draw into lineup in his place.
Eriksson Ek (undisclosed) is considered day-to-day as he is expected to miss the next "few games".
Eriksson Ek exited Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes after playing 14:55 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. Eriksson Ek has been tremendous for Minnesota this season and, although the severity of his injury seems minor, it creates a sizeable void down the middle in the lineup. Through 66 games this season, Eriksson Ek already has 60 points (29G / 31A), only one shy of his career-high set last season.
Eriksson Ek left Tuesday's game against the Coyotes with an undisclosed and did not return.
The team has not given an update about the undisclosed injury but it's been speculated that Eriksson Ek could be forced to miss a couple games. The Wild can ill afford to be without Eriksson Ek, who has been enjoying a career year. The Wild's number-one centreman has 29 goals and 31 assists in 66 games on the season while playing over 20 minutes a night.
Johansson (lower body) has been activated from Injured Reserve and will return on Tuesday vs. Arizona.
Johansson hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury on March 2nd. He has 27 points (9G / 11A) in 61 games this season.
Foligno (lower body) is good to play on Tuesday after missing morning skate.
Foligno recently returned from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury, but has played the last two games for the Wild and will remain in the lineup on Tuesday despite missing the morning skate. The bruising forward has five penalty minutes and five shots in his last two games.
Middleton (upper-body) will return to the Wild lineup on Sunday.
Middleton (upper-body) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Predators.
Middleton (upper-body) will not play in Colorado on Friday.
Middleton was a late scratch for Thursday's game and will be sidelined again on Friday after being a game-time decision. Middleton has seven goals and 13 assists in 62 games this season.
Foligno (lower-body) will return to the Wild lineup on Friday.
Foligno has not played since February 9th, missing 12 games, but will return to the lineup on Friday. In 47 games this season, Foligno has 20 points (9G / 11A) and 162 hits while averaging 14:35 time-on-ice.
Middleton (upper-body) is a game-time decision for Friday's game in Colorado.
Middleton was a late scratch for Thursday's game but has a chance to return to the lineup just one day later. Middleton has seven goals and 13 assists in 62 games this season.
Goalie Start
Gustavsson will start in Colorado on Friday.
Gustavsson will be back between the pipes for the Wild when they travel to Denver on Friday after Marc-Andre Fleury got the nod for Thursday's game in Arizona. Gustavsson saw light work his last time out, facing just 15 shots in a 4-3 victory over the Sharks on Sunday. He's had a disappointing follow up to his breakout campaign a year ago, registering a 17-15-3 record and just an .892 SV%. He draws as difficult of an assignment as you could imagine on Friday with the Wild being +190 underdogs in Colorado.
Line Change
Trenin will make his Avalanche debut on Friday vs. Minnesota.
The Avalanche acquired Trenin and Graham Sward from the Predators for Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 third-round pick on Thursday. In 60 games with the Predators this season, Trenin had 14 points (10G / 4A), 94 shots, and 168 hits.
Middleton (undisclosed) will not play against the Coyotes on Thursday.
Middleton will miss Thursday's game in Arizona as he presumably deals with an undisclosed injury. Middleton has seven goals and 13 assists in 62 games this season.
The Avalanche have acquired Yakov Trenin and Graham Sward from the Predators for Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 third-round pick.
The Avalanche acquired Brandon Duhaime on Thursday and added even more depth to their bottom six by acquiring Trenin later in the day. In 60 games with the Predators this season, Trenin had 14 points (10G / 4A), 94 shots, and 168 hits.
Foligno (lower body) is out on Thursday and considered day-to-day.
Foligno has not played since February 9th, missing 11 games, and will miss a 12th on Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes. In 47 games this season, Foligno has 20 points (9G / 11A) and 162 hits while averaging 14:35 time-on-ice.
Johansson (lower body) has been placed on Injured Reserve.
Johansson did not play in Minnesota's last outing and exited the previous game after playing only 2:47 time-on-ice. He has 27 points (9G / 11A) in 61 games this season. In a corresponding move, Adam Beckman has been recalled from the Iowa Wild (AHL).
Foligno (lower body) is a game-time decision on Thursday in Arizona.
Foligno has not played since February 9th, missing 11 games, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes. In 47 games this season, Foligno has 20 points (9G / 11A) and 162 hits while averaging 14:35 time-on-ice.
The Florida Panthers have acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators.
Tarasenko joined the Senators in the offseason on a one-year contract, a move that did not materialize for the club as they are trending towards another season without playoff hockey. On Wednesday, the Panthers acquired Tarasenko from the Senators in return for a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick, with Ottawa retaining half of his salary. Tarasenko was playing some of his best hockey of the season before the trade, scoring nine points (4G / 5A) in his last 13 games.
Minnesota has signed Zach Bogosian to a two-year, $2.5 million contract extension ($1,250,000 AAV).
Bogosian was acquired by the Wild from Tampa Bay in November earlier this season and will remain in Minnesota for at least two more years after signing a two-year, $2.5 million contract on Tuesday. The 33-year-old is in his 16th NHL season and has a goal and nine points in 43 games played in 2023-24.
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