When is Kirill Kaprizov coming back? Minnesota Wild benefit from double injury boost

Kirill Kaprizov has been on Injured Reserve since December 23 with a lower-body injury. Roughly one month later, he's back in the lineup. The Minnesota Wild activated him off of IR on Thursday.

Kaprizov isn't the only player coming back, though. Captain Jared Spurgeon has also been out since late December, and he's been activated and will return to the lineup as well.

Spurgeon suffered his injury on Dec. 31, and the team's defense has suffered without one of their top-line defensemen. He suffered a foot injury in an incident with Nashville Predators forward Zachary L'Heureux, who was suspended for it.

Before getting hurt this year, Kaprizov was playing as well as anyone and was in the MVP race. In 34 games this year, he had 23 goals and 27 assists for 50 points. At the time, he was on pace for offensive career highs virtually across the board.

Now, he and his captain are healthy again and can resume their journey. The Wild need reinforcements as they continue to fight for the Central Division. With 60 points, they're seven back of the Winnipeg Jets but only one up on the Dallas Stars. The Colorado Avalanche are lurking two points behind as well.

---

Minnesota Wild coach addresses return of Kirill Kaprizov

The Minnesota Wild activated Kirill Kaprizov from Injured Reserve on Thursday, but they expected to get him back before then. On Wednesday, coach John Hynes said there was excitement about his and Jared Spurgeon's return.

Kirill Kaprizov is back (Imagn)

The coach said (via NHL.com):

"I think it certainly helps when you have guys obviously coming back and being part of the practice. Not only the team's excited, but I also think the players that are coming back from injury, they're glad to be around the guys and the team and being at practice. ...

He continued:

"And then that's when the players come back, of the magnitude of those two guys, and everybody else continues to play at the level that they've played at, now your team can get stronger, and that's something that I'd like to see."

The Wild take on the Utah Hockey Club tonight at 8 p.m. ET.