Minnesota Wild defenceman Jared Spurgeon has already missed two games with what the team has called a lower-body injury. The team has now clarified his status, saying that he will miss at least the next two weeks with a groin strain.

#mnwild‘s Jared Spurgeon sidelined two weeks with groin strain https://t.co/jeFOEnLTQl

— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) December 1, 2017

Minnesota Wild Defenceman Jared Spurgeon Out at Least Two Weeks

Spurgeon is a key cog in the Wild’s defence. He averages 25:39 of ice time per game, playing all situations, and appearing on the top pair beside Ryan Suter. He scored three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 23 games so far this season. He also leads the team with 51 blocked shots.

“It is a big loss,” fellow defenceman Mathew Dumba told the Minnesota Star-Tribune. “You can’t take anything away from that. It’s Jared Spurgeon. I think he’s one of the most underrated guys in the NHL. I see it on a day-to-day basis how good he is. All of us do.

“We have to fill that void. It’s all working together and making sure we’re focused every game from here on out when we don’t have him. And when we do have him, we’ll try to incorporate him and get this thing rolling.”

The Wild claimed Nate Prosser off waivers from the St. Louis Blues earlier in the week. His acquisition will help the team’s defensive depth as they deal with the injury to Spurgeon. Prosser was a member of the Wild for seven seasons before signing in St. Louis. He only played one game for the Blues.

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Minnesota Wild Defenceman Jared Spurgeon (46) follows the play during a NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche on November 24, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.The Wild defeated the Avalanche 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)