Mikael Granlund News

Granlund has missed 11 straight games and 13 of the past 14. In those 14 games, the Wild has scored 22 goals. It is not easy returning immediately from a concussion. "We'll be realistic with our expectations, but I think there's no better way of getting right back in there than to throw him back into the fire," Yeo said.

Granlund, who has been skating on his own, is skating with extra forwards Justin Fontaine and Mike Rupp, which also indicated that Mike Yeo will return with the same lineup as the Colorado win on Tuesday against the red-hot Vancouver Canucks. Including the Phoenix game that Granlund skated 29 seconds in, the Wild is 5-6-1 without Granlund with 18 goals scored (1.5 goals per game). I'd still be surprised if Granlund plays in any of the next few games just because of his history of concussions, but at the very least, maybe he'll now come on the upcoming road trip to practice.

It sounds like Granlund must have had symptoms working out or after he got on the ice on his own Monday. "We’re going to keep him off right now," coach Mike Yeo said. "He skated the other day and we’re at the point now where lets just take some time off here and make sure we get this right. ... I just know that we’re not making progress, and so what we’re doing right now, we have to take a different approach."

Granlund has been hit hard recently - courtesy of Nazem Kadri, Marc Methot, and Connor Murphy. Hopefully the time to recover will allow Granlund to get his game back. Brodziak may get more opportunity because of the Granlund injury but you can find better options on the waiver wire.

Granlund missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but should be back in the lineup tonight and skate with Nino Niederreiter and Jason Pominville. Granlund has two goals and 10 assists as he continues to progress his game in the NHL. The Finnish phenom has more value in keeper leagues, but is still relevant in deep one-year leagues.

Granlund did not skate on Sunday or this morning after missing Saturday's contest with the Jets. The Finnish centre has two goals and 10 assists in 23 games. Mike Rupp will make his season debut tonight with Granlund out.

Granlund collected eight points (2-6=8) in 27 games with Minnesota this season. The 5-foot-10, 186-pound native of Oulu, Fin., recorded 28 points (10-18=28) in 29 games with the Aeros this season and added two points (1-1=2) in five playoff games.

Granlund recorded just one goal and one assist with a minus-2 in his last eight games. Minnesota is limping into the playoffs right now, so they are looking for a spark.

Granlund is not fantasy relevant this season.

Granlund scored six points (1-5=6) in 19 games with Minnesota this season and registered a goal in his NHL debut vs. Colorado on Jan. 19. The 5-foot-10, 186-pound native of Oulu, Finland has recorded 28 points (10-18=28) in 29 games with the Aeros this season.

The highly touted Finn and 2010 first-round pick had been scratched in four of the past eight games and needed to get playing. He hasn't scored a goal since opening night and had six points in 19 games.

Granlund has all of the potential in the world but has hit a rut similar to what we've seen with other rookies in this shortened season. The best case scenario would be for Granlund to spend some time in Houston playing instead of playing limited minutes with the Wild, where he won't be producing. We aren't downgrading Granlund for keeper league status, yet, but all yearly league owners should have Granlund dropped until he shows some signs of life.

Granlund has struggled to start his NHL career. He is still only 20 years old and is tremendously skilled. He will find his groove eventually but for now he is only valuable in deep keeper leagues until he gets back into the lineup and starts scoring.

Granlund isn't lining up on the most potent scoring line but he has shown that he can dazzle all by himself so he is worth a late flier.