Marcus Foligno’s Disappointing Start to the Season Takes a Turn for the Worse
The Minnesota Wild’s veteran winger Marcus Foligno has had a rough start to the season, and things just got worse. Foligno, who has been known for his on-ice intensity and off-ice levity, has yet to register a goal or assist through the Wild’s first nine games. To make matters worse, he was scratched from Sunday’s game against the San Jose Sharks due to an upper body injury.
According to Wild coach John Hynes, Foligno’s injury is currently being evaluated, and the severity is unknown. “He’s out, upper body,” Hynes said. “He had some imaging done today, and I don’t know the results of it.” Foligno, 34, had a relatively healthy season last year, missing only five games and scoring 14 goals in 77 games. However, this season has been a different story.
Foligno’s Resilience and Importance to the Team
Despite his tough start, Foligno has shown his physical resilience, taking a massive open-ice hit in a win against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden last week and returning to finish the game. However, even before the injury, Hynes acknowledged that Foligno was one of the veterans they were looking for to contribute more on the score sheet. The coach had a one-on-one meeting with Foligno following the team’s Friday practice at TRIA Rink.
“He’s such a valuable member to the team. I think what he brings to the team is crucial,” Hynes said. “He’s kind of a heartbeat type of guy. And sometimes he’s just looking at some things, almost like we did last year at the beginning of the year, getting back to the things that make him such an important player for us and such a good player.” Foligno’s importance to the team cannot be overstated, and his injury is a significant blow to the Wild’s lineup.
The Sharks’ Rising Star: Macklin Celebrini
The Sharks, who have not been a playoff participant since 2019, came to Minnesota with just one win to their credit this season. However, they have a promising young player in Macklin Celebrini, who was selected first overall in the 2024 draft. Celebrini, 19, has been averaging over a point per game for San Jose and has a familiarity with the Bay Area, having played two seasons of prep hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault and one year at Boston University, where he won the Hobey Baker Award as a freshman.
Celebrini’s speed, strength, and tenacity on the puck make him a driving player, and he has already made a significant impact on the Sharks’ lineup. He had five goals and seven assists in the Sharks’ first eight games and was one of three finalists for NHL Rookie of the Year last season. The Wild’s game plan was to be on alert whenever Celebrini was on the ice, and he did not disappoint, assisting on San Jose’s first period power play goal just five minutes into the game.
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