Wild Place Jake Middleton on Long-Term Injured Reserve Following Hand Injury

The Minnesota Wild announced Friday that defenseman Jake Middleton has been placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) after suffering a hand injury in Thursday’s 7-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Middleton was injured in the first period while blocking a shot from Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. This development is a significant setback for the Wild, who have relied heavily on Middleton’s steady play throughout the season.

Middleton’s Key Contributions This Season

This season, Jake Middleton has emerged as a cornerstone of the Wild’s defensive unit. In 28 games, Middleton has recorded 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points. Beyond his offensive contributions, Middleton’s defensive impact has been exceptional.

He leads the NHL in plus/minus with an impressive +22 rating, a testament to his ability to contribute at both ends of the ice. Middleton has also been logging heavy minutes, averaging 20:36 of ice time per game, often tasked with shutting down opposing teams’ top players.

Losing a player of Middleton’s caliber not only affects the Wild’s defense but also their transition game and penalty-killing unit. His physical style and shot-blocking prowess will be sorely missed as Minnesota navigates a competitive Central Division race.

Wild Respond by Claiming Travis Dermott

To address Middleton’s absence, the Wild moved quickly, claiming defenseman Travis Dermott off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. The 27-year-old Dermott, who played sparingly for Edmonton this season, appeared in 10 games but did not register a point and posted a minus-three rating during his limited ice time.

While Dermott doesn’t bring the same level of defensive reliability as Middleton, he has 339 games of NHL experience and can offer depth on Minnesota’s blue line. The Wild are hopeful that a fresh start in Minnesota will help Dermott regain his confidence and provide stability in Middleton’s absence.

Minnesota’s Strong Start Faces a Challenge

The Wild’s 2024-25 season has been one of their best starts in recent years. With a 19-6-4 record and 42 points, Minnesota sits second in the Central Division, trailing only the Winnipeg Jets. The team has found success with a balanced approach, strong goaltending, and contributions from players across the lineup.

However, Middleton’s absence will test the team’s depth and resilience. Head coach John Hynes will likely lean on veterans like Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin to take on larger roles, while young players such as David Jiricek may have opportunities to step up.

Final Thoughts

The Wild will return to action on Saturday when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at the Xcel Energy Center. While the loss of Middleton will be a storyline heading into the game, Minnesota will aim to stay focused and continue building on their strong start to the season.

As the team adjusts to this new challenge, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the Wild’s defensive unit adapts. With Middleton sidelined, the spotlight now turns to Travis Dermott and the rest of the blue line to fill the void and keep Minnesota in the hunt for a top spot in the division.