Minnesota Wild center Tyler Graovac is expected to miss “a couple weeks” with a groin strain, according to the Star Tribune’s Michael Russo.
It’s a tough start to the season for the 6-foot-5 forward, who cracked the opening night roster for the first time in his career, centering a line with Charlie Coyle and Thomas Vanek.
Graovac, 22, made his NHL debut last season, grabbing a cup of coffee when the team was struggling with injuries and a big losing streak that almost derailed their season.
In Graovac’s absence the team has moved Charlie Coyle back to center on the third line and had recalled winger Jordan Schroeder. With the team tight against the cap, they’ve returned Schroeder to the Iowa Wild in the AHL since there are four days between games and the salary cap is computed daily, but may call him back up when the team returns to action for the first time since Saturday on Thursday.
The other possibility is that Justin Fontaine is healthy enough to play, in which case the team would activate him off IR to fill out the roster.
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Dustin Nelson is the News Editor for The Hockey Writers. He’s a contributor to Hockey Prospectus, Hockey Wilderness, and writes a column for Rotowire. He’s also written for Gone Puck Wild, Wild Xtra, InDigest, Electric Literature, The Rumpus, Tiny Mix Tapes, Prefix Magazine & other publications. Have a tip? Email him at dlukenelson[at]gmail[dot]com.
