Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin miss the first two games as Minnesota reshapes its lineup for the Avalanche series.
Minnesota’s second-round opening is set to feel unfamiliar, with Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin both unavailable for the first two games against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Wild will play Game 1 without Eriksson Ek and Brodin after both suffered lower-body injuries. Neither player traveled to Denver, and coach John Hynes indicated the team is still finalizing lineup decisions ahead of Sunday night’s start.
With Eriksson Ek out, Misryoum expects Minnesota to rethink key minutes at both ends, especially as the team looks to maintain its structure without a forward who typically takes on a heavy share of responsibilities.
In Denver, Colorado arrives with a different kind of absence. Josh Manson will miss the early stretch as well, sidelined by an upper-body injury that kept him out of the series clincher against the Los Angeles Kings. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Nick Blankenburg will step into Manson’s role.
Bednar’s comments highlighted what Colorado will be managing with the change, particularly the physical edge and strength Manson provides. Misryoum notes that the adjustment could matter in the way the Avs compete for space and respond when the Wild press for momentum early in shifts.
Eriksson Ek’s impact has been tangible for Minnesota this postseason.. In the first-round matchup against Dallas. he produced three goals and two assists and also won 56.4 percent of faceoffs. underscoring his value in both scoring phases and puck battles.. With him sidelined. Hynes pointed to a collective approach and suggested options such as Danila Yurov and Hunter Haight as possible fits to cover the minutes and situations.
Brodin’s absence compounds the challenge for Minnesota’s balance on the back end. Hynes said Brodin missed Game 6 against Dallas as well, and with the schedule offering a quick pivot, the team will reevaluate both injuries before they decide how to proceed beyond the early games.
The significance here is simple: series chess starts immediately. Misryoum expects the early lineup choices to shape not only matchups and roles, but also how each team sets the tone for the rest of the second-round battle.