Kaprizov has missed the past 10 games with a lower-body injury that has required lots of treatments and pushed-back timetables.

The Minnesota Wild have yet another defenseman unavailable on Thursday night, adding to an ever growing list of injury problems.

Minnesota held a practice back home in St. Paul on Tuesday. Faber and Kaprizov did not practice with the team but they did skate on their own. Spurgeon and Lauko also skated on their own. Brodin has yet to skate. The Wild host the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow. It doesn't sound like either of the five injured Wild players will play.

While Kaprizov could be back this week, Wild coach John Hynes did not "want to put a timeline" on his potential return, according to Smith, but added the fact Kaprizov is skating every day and continuing to do more and more each day is "a good sign." There are signs Minnesota could be gearing up to have some players return soon.

There was an audible buzz inside TRIA Rink early on Wednesday when Brock Faber stepped onto the ice to take shots on goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. The buzz continued when Jakub Lauko followed him, and it got notably louder when Kirill Kaprizov joined the party,