Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin is set to return to action in tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after being activated from injured reserve, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic. To make room on the roster for Brodin’s return, the Wild sent defenseman Matt Kiersted to their AHL affiliate, Iowa.
Brodin’s Recovery and Previous Absences This Season
Brodin, 32, has been sidelined for about seven weeks following a minor lower-body surgery performed in mid-January. The Olympic break limited his missed games to just 14. Earlier this season, he also missed four contests in December due to a related lower-body injury, marking two separate absences.
Defense Unit Returns at Full Strength Amid Playoff Push
The Wild’s defensive lineup is now complete for the first time since early December as they compete for playoff positioning in the tightly contested Central Division, alongside the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars. Minnesota has posted a strong 7-2-1 record in their last ten games. However, their most recent two losses—against Colorado and St. Louis—resulted in a combined 8-3 score deficit. Brodin is expected to slot back into the top-four defense pairing alongside team captain Jared Spurgeon to help the Wild snap this brief losing streak. They face a Lightning squad licking their wounds after suffering a 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres over the weekend.
Brodin’s Role and Performance in Minnesota’s Defense
Now entering his 14th campaign with Minnesota, Brodin remains a key defensive contributor. Although his average ice time has dropped below 22 minutes for the first time in six years, partially due to the acquisition of Quinn Hughes pushing him from the top-left defense role, Brodin has maintained a plus-13 rating in 42 games. He has started 54.8% of his 5-on-5 shifts in the defensive zone, the highest such figure for him since the 2020-21 season. His underlying numbers reflect solid defensive performance, controlling 48.6% of shot attempts and 52.4% of expected goals while on ice.
Matt Kiersted Returns to Iowa as Extra Defenseman Role Ends
Matt Kiersted, 27, has returned to the Iowa Wild after serving as a depth defenseman for Minnesota during their first three games following the Olympic break. Kiersted, a Minnesota native, has appeared in four NHL games this season and recorded one goal and seven points across 33 outings in Iowa.
