Nico Sturm, the Wild, John Hynes and Minnesota fans are all waiting on news after a frightening moment against Vegas in Saint Paul tonight.
Sturm took a puck to the side of the head and needed help getting off the ice, and Dr. Harjas Grewal's early read lists several serious possibilities.
Grewal said a skull fracture, a brain bleed, an ear injury or a concussion are all on the table. He stressed that he's hoping for a positive update.
The next step is imaging. Grewal said Sturm will most likely get a scan tonight, if he hasn't already had one.
Those results will tell the real story. A concussion alone would be the best of those scenarios, while a fracture or bleed would mean a much longer road.
Grewal also noted the injury looked eerily similar to the one Brock Faber suffered. Faber is already out, adding to Minnesota's growing injury list.
John Hynes' Wild wait on scan results after a scary night
Sturm, 31, carries a $2,000,000 cap hit and had played three games this season. Right now, those numbers don't matter at all.
The Wild have already been leaning on call-ups, with Rieger Lorenz brought up from Iowa. Another injury up front stretches the lineup even thinner.
Minnesota should take every precaution, no matter what the scan shows. Head injuries aren't a place for toughness or timelines, and Sturm's long-term health comes before any game.
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Waiting on a scan like this is like sitting in a hospital hallway. Every minute feels longer than the last.
The Wild visit Winnipeg on Tuesday, but hockey is the last thing on anyone's mind tonight.
Grewal is hoping for good news. So is everyone who saw that puck hit him.
Should the NHL do more to protect players from pucks to the head?
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