The Minnesota Wild are fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot, and every shift on the ice counts. With each game ramping up in intensity, the pressure’s sky-high—and so is the noise around their roster. But while some names have been showing up in the clutch, there’s one veteran netminder who’s been notably missing.
As the Wild gear up for a pivotal matchup against the Dallas Stars, fans can’t help but wonder one question. Is there still a chance Troy Grosenick suits up and plays his part in this final push? On paper, the need for depth is there. But the reality of the situation is way more complicated—and far less hopeful.
Troy Grosenick’s season is finished before it ever really got started. The 35-year-old goalie faced a harsh fate in training camp when he tore his ACL. The injury took him directly to the operating room and out for the rest of the 2024–25 season. Minnesota confirmed in early October that he would miss the season recovering from knee surgery.
It’s a cruel fate for a fellow who was expected to be the AHL Iowa Wild’s glue in the net. He was also expected to hold down some insurance at the NHL level. Instead, Grosenick never played in a regular-season game for the Wild. Now, he is on the outside looking in as the team pushes toward the playoffs.
What pains us even more? His one-year, two-way contract signed in July of 2024 could expire before he ever gets the opportunity to suit up in the Minnesota attire in a contest that counts. The clock is ticking, and barring some miracle or extension. This could be the quiet end to his time with the team.
No — beyond some rumors and fan wishful thinking, he’s not coming back this season. The Wild’s own doctors made it clear he won’t return until fall 2025 at the soonest.
The Wild were surging — second half time?
And now, with Troy Grosenick officially on the shelf, it’s been Filip Gustavsson and Marc-André Fleury holding down the fort. And they’ve done a rock-solid job.
Gustavsson has 28 wins on the season, posting a .917 save percentage and showing up big during their recent three-game win streak. And Fleury’s no slouch either, stepping in as needed with a steady hand.
The Wild currently sit in the first wild-card spot in the West. With just four points back from Colorado for a divisional spot. Each point is crucial, and they are hanging in there even after dealing with a long list of injuries. Marcus Foligno is day-to-day, and Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek are both out. That’s a whole lot of firepower and grit absent from the lineup. And that’s placing a heavy load on the guys still suiting up.
While Grosenick’s NHL experience might be limited, with just four games and a record of 2-2-0, his impact in the AHL over the past decade has been nothing short of remarkable. For instance, during the 2021-22 season with the Providence Bruins, he posted a 2.00 GAA and a .933 save percentage over 30 games. In the 2023-24 season with the Milwaukee Admirals, he recorded a 2.56 GAA and a .907 save percentage in 30 appearances. And he has consistently proven to be a dependable veteran presence—exactly what teams lean on when challenges arise.
Initially, Minnesota planned to rely on their top prospect, Jesper Wallstedt, but his timeline didn’t quite sync with Grosenick’s unexpected injury related absence. This situation prompted the Wild to quickly adapt, seeking depth signings and emergency call-ups like Dylan Ferguson to step into the goalie role. Could Grosenick have helped secure some crucial points as the season progressed? It’s certainly a possibility, leaving us pondering the “what ifs.”
In a playoff race as competitive as this one, every detail matters. Losing a potential key player like Grosenick before the season even kicked off presents a challenge that’s easy to overlook yet tough to forget. As the Wild gear up to face Dallas tonight, they know that each minute on the ice counts and every single point can significantly impact their future.
Although Grosenick may not have the chance to shine with Minnesota, the Wild’s journey is still unfolding beautifully. The dream of making the postseason remains alive and vibrant, and it’s now up to the players on the ice to keep that dream thriving!
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