The regular season for the NHL starts Oct. 10th. The Wild open their season at home on the 12th against the Florida Panthers and will start the year without their captain. 

Jared Spurgeon, 33, was injured in a preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday. He was hit by Reece Johnson head-first into the boards and is now expected to be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. 

The injury seems to be around Spurgeon's shoulder area and will have him out until mid-to-late October. 

It's a tough blow for the Wild who have two young right-shot defensemen on their second and third pair. With Spurgeon being out for a while the Wild will likely look to elevate either Brock Faber or Calen Addison. 

Options for the Wild without Spurgeon

Addison, 23, played 62 games for the Wild last year but eventually sat out the last 20 games and the playoffs because of his poor defensive play. 

Faber, 21, played two regular season games last year but played every game in the playoffs. 

The two defensemen have combined for 86 games played in the NHL with 80 of them going to Addison. But are there better options in the AHL to replace Spurgeon?

The Wild have three right-shot defenders down in Iowa and all three have combined for zero NHL games in their careers and 64 combined AHL games with all 64 of them being played by Simon Johansson.

Johansson, 24, was the Wild's fifth-round selection in the 2018 draft and played four years after he was drafted, in the SHL and Liga before playing in the AHL last year. 

So Johansson's chances of being called up, alongside the other two right-shot defenders David Spacek and Kyle Masters, are likely slim to none. 

The more likely option is for the Wild to recall Dakota Mermis as insurance and play either Jon Merrill or Alex Goligoski on their offsides. Or just roll with six defenders and don’t recall one unless you have too  

Regardless, it is a massive blow for the Wild especially if Spurgeon is out for longer than expected. 

*This story will be updated soon