Wild expect Nick Foligno to miss two games after upper-body injury, coach says

The Minnesota Wild will be without veteran forward Nick Foligno for the next two games after an upper-body injury, with coach John Hynes indicating the issue is day-to-day. The immediate timeline, as reported, is a pair of absences starting with Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning and extending through Saturday’s matchup with the Florida Panthers.

Foligno is expected to join the Wild’s injury list, and the coaching update frames the situation as uncertain in duration beyond those two games. While the team did not provide a detailed timetable beyond “day-to-day,” the decision to remove him from the lineup for two consecutive contests suggests the injury is affecting his readiness to play at full speed.

For the Wild, Foligno’s absence matters because he has typically been counted on for steady minutes and a physical, veteran presence in games where matchups tighten and roles become clearer. In a shortened window where a team has to quickly adjust, missing a forward with experience also forces the coaching staff to reshuffle lines and responsibilities, including who handles certain faceoff and forechecking duties.

John Hynes confirmed the injury status in the team’s official messaging, according to the report. That confirmation puts Minnesota in the unusual position of planning through at least the next two opponents while keeping the door open that Foligno could return sooner than later, depending on how he progresses from day to day.

The scheduling impact is straightforward but meaningful: the Wild must prepare for two different styles within the same span. Tampa Bay brings a mix of speed and structured puck play, while Florida typically emphasizes a gritty, heavy approach in key areas of the ice. Without Foligno, Minnesota’s forward group has to compensate for whatever specific role he was expected to fill against each opponent.

The next days will likely center on practice availability and roster usage rather than speculation about a long-term timeline. With Foligno listed as day-to-day, the most practical question for Minnesota will be whether he can increase activity level quickly enough to return for the following stretch after Saturday.

Until there is an updated status from the team, Minnesota should operate under the assumption that Foligno remains out for those two games. For fans, that means watching which players earn extended looks in his stead and whether the Wild’s forward lines maintain their balance in the middle of the ice once the veteran presence is removed.