Mikael Granlund spoke of the broken bone as if it were a mere annoyance, no more worrisome than a scratch or a bruise. "Just a little sore,'' the Wild forward said Tuesday, after it was revealed he broke his right hand in the team's playoff opener. "Everybody's battling something. It's just a part of playing.''
The injury happened April 12, when Granlund blocked a shot with his hand in Game 1 of the Wild's first-round playoff series against St. Louis. General Manager Chuck Fletcher said Granlund never complained about an injury that takes four to six weeks to heal. Tuesday, Granlund also was loath to blame it for his inability to score in the playoffs after finishing the regular season with a career-high 26 goals and 69 points.
Granlund had no goals and two assists in the playoffs. Still, Fletcher raved about the growth of a player who led the Wild in points and assists, compiled the fourth-highest point total in franchise history and is a finalist for the NHL's Lady Byng Trophy, given for combining outstanding play with sportsmanship. Granlund faced the league's best defenders night after night and didn't back down, signifying another step in his development.
"As we spoke this time last year, [there were] questions about whether he was even going to become a top-line NHL player,'' Fletcher said. "I think this was a great growing experience for him. He didn't have any time and space. [Opponents] put their best defensive players out against him and hit him every time they could.
"He competed right to the end. He'll have to learn ways to create some time and space for himself. I just think he's such a competitive and smart player, he'll learn.''
Granlund will become a restricted free agent this summer, as will forward Nino Niederreiter. Niederreiter also failed to score in the playoffs, finishing with one assist after the most productive regular season of his career. But Fletcher said their lack of postseason punch won't affect negotiations to sign both to long-term deals.
Granlund said his broken hand would heal on its own and would not need surgery. Fletcher anticipates three or four other players will have offseason surgeries for various ailments.
Short-timer?
Forward Martin Hanzal, acquired in a trade-deadline deal in February, spoke glowingly about his experience with the Wild. He will be a free agent for the first time and would like to remain in Minnesota, though it does not appear likely.
"I was really happy here, so if there's a chance for me to stay, I would love to,'' said Hanzal, who scored a goal in Game 4 and had four goals and 13 points in 20 regular-season games. "I loved it here. I was satisfied with everything.''
Fletcher said "some concern and some uncertainty'' regarding the Wild's salary-cap space left him unsure whether he could retain Hanzal, who is seeking a long-term deal. He praised Hanzal for giving the Wild exactly what he expected — size, faceoff ability and tenacity — and said he had no regrets about giving up first- and second-round draft picks and minor-leaguer Grayson Downing for Hanzal, winger Ryan White and a fourth-round pick.
"He contributed at the level he has throughout most of his career, without even getting most of the power-play time he's been used to,'' Fletcher said of Hanzal. "He was impactful and certainly made us deeper through the middle. He was a good pickup for us.''
Etc.
• Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin have been named to Sweden's team for the world championships, which will be May 5-21 in Paris and Cologne, Germany.
• Boston University forward Jordan Greenway has officially informed the Wild he plans to return to the Terriers for his junior season. A second-round pick in the 2015 NHL draft, Greenway has been named to the U.S. roster for the world championships, and it is believed he has been promised a spot on the U.S. team for the 2018 Olympics if NHL players do not participate.
Staff writer Michael Russo contributed to this report.
