Minnesota Wild’s Daemon Hunt Returns to the Blue Line After Injury
Practically every member of the Minnesota Wild — players, coaches, and staff — can admit it has been a long and grueling road trip, as Thursday night’s game in Seattle concludes two weeks away from St. Paul — with one exception. The team has been on a marathon road trip, and the players are eager to return home.
Defenseman Daemon Hunt joined the team in the Pacific Northwest for the seventh and final game of the road trip, activated after missing the past 10 Wild outings with a lower-body injury. Hunt’s return to the blue line is a significant boost to the team, especially with veteran Zach Bogosian missing time due to injury.
Hunt’s Road to Recovery
“It’s been a long time coming. At least it feels like it,” Hunt told reporters at Climate Pledge Arena for the Wild’s morning skate. “I was pretty lonely at home, just doing rehab with all the boys on the road. So, I feel good, 100%, so I’m really excited. It’s been a while.” Hunt’s injury occurred on December 16 in a home win versus the Washington Capitals, where he took a knee to the leg from Washington forward Ethen Frank, resulting in a severe contusion to his quad muscle.
“It’s just like a really, really bad charley horse,” Hunt said. “Like, my whole leg was blue and black and yellow. It just takes time for that quad to heal.” The injury was so severe that Hunt couldn’t walk for the next two weeks, and his return to the ice is a testament to his dedication and hard work during the rehabilitation process.
Wild’s Road Trip and Upcoming Game
The Wild had gone 3-1-2 in the road trip’s first six games, but suffered a shootout loss and a regulation loss in Los Angeles. Coach John Hynes emphasized the importance of rebounding in their second visit to Seattle, stating, “You’ve got to be where your feet are, and where we are is here. We’ve got to be able to win a game and play well.” The team is looking to finish the trip strong, and Hunt’s return to the lineup is a significant factor in their quest for a win.
Additionally, the Wild organization will have a strong presence at the Winter Olympics in Italy, with 10 members representing various countries. Goalie Samuel Hlavaj, who has spent much of this season with the Iowa Wild, was named to Team Slovakia, while Minnesota Duluth sophomore Adam Gajan will also represent Team Slovakia. The Wild organization will have players representing the United States, Sweden, Germany, Czechia, and Slovakia in the Olympics.
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