Mason Shaw out for the season with fourth ACL injury of his career; sustained during Minnesota Wild's 4-1 loss

The Minnesota Wild suffered a major blow on Monday as they announced that forward Mason Shaw will be out for the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. This is the fourth ACL injury of his career, which is a significant setback for the 24-year-old player.

The injury occurred during the Wild's 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday when Shaw went to forecheck Jack Eichel but lost his balance and crashed awkwardly into the boards. It was a non-contact injury, but the severity of it was evident as Shaw was in severe discomfort and had to be helped off the ice by the team's medical trainer and a teammate.

Mason Shaw has been a crucial part of the Wild's bottom-six forward group this season, having registered 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists) in 59 games, along with four fighting majors and 79 penalty minutes. He is a gritty player who has played through adversity, having already overcome three ACL injuries throughout his career.

It remains to be seen how long Mason Shaw will be out of action, but given his history with ACL injuries, it is unlikely that he will return anytime soon. The Wild will have to make do without him for the rest of the season, and they will need their other players to step up if they want to make a deep playoff run.

Discovering the 'Wild' Journey of Mason Shaw from his Father

Aaron Shaw, experienced a heartwarming moment as he watched his son, Mason Shaw, score his second career goal for the Minnesota Wild against the Montreal Canadiens on 2nd November 2022. Mason, a depth forward, had just scored his first career goal the day before in Chicago, a significant milestone for him, having gone through three ACL surgeries. His father had driven five hours from the family farm in Alberta to catch a flight from Calgary to watch his son play in the NHL for only the second time.

Mason's second goal was particularly significant as it was the first goal in the Wild's 4-1 victory over the Canadiens. The Wild are currently struggling with injuries to their forwards, making contributions from players like Mason Shaw critical. Head coach Dean Evason acknowledged the need for everyone to step up, including the AHL Iowa call-up.

Apart from Shaw's two goals, the game saw superstar Kirill Kaprizov score two more goals, while goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was outstanding once again. Rookie Marco Rossi, who has gone eight games without a point, got his first NHL point with an assist.

Mason Shaw's journey to the NHL has not been an easy one, as he has had to overcome multiple ACL surgeries, and his father even considered taking him back home to the farm after the third injury. However, his teammates rallied around him, encouraging him not to give up on his dreams. Mason's father expressed gratitude for the support the organization and players provided to his son, making his NHL dreams a reality.