Jared Spurgeon returns, Mason Shaw makes NHL debut for Wild

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Mason Shaw had a support system that kept him motivated — family members, teammates and coaches who were in his corner.

But what also kept the forward shrugging off adversity was his love of hockey.

"This is what I've dreamed about since I was a kid," Shaw said. "To finally get here is an amazing feeling."

After undergoing two ACL surgeries since getting drafted by the Wild and three overall, Shaw appeared in his first NHL game Thursday at SAP Center against the Sharks.

He became the fifth player this season to make his NHL debut with the Wild.

"It's a long road to get to this point, and everyone's path is a little bit different," Shaw said. "Fortunately for me, it's landed here."

Shaw's journey has had plenty of interruptions.

Not long after he was selected in the fourth round (97th overall) by the Wild in 2017, Shaw suffered a torn right ACL at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament and was sidelined for most of the ensuing season.

He later had his left ACL fixed up after he was hurt in an American Hockey League playoff game in 2019, an injury that kept him out until January 2020. Once he returned, Shaw played just 17 games before the season was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic and then logged only 30 games in a shortened campaign earlier this year.

This season, he has been one of Iowa's most productive players, recording 14 points in 18 games before the Wild called him up on Monday.

"Such a hard-working kid," Wild captain Jared Spurgeon said. "He's fun to be around, a lot of energy. He's gone through a lot of injuries that he's had to overcome and to be able to do that and then get back to the level that he was playing at before and then to get your first NHL game is pretty special."

The 23-year-old subbed in for Rem Pitlick, who was a healthy scratch, and Shaw learned he'd be in the lineup Thursday morning. He immediately texted his parents but wasn't sure if they'd make it to San Jose on time from Alberta, Canada.

Shaw was sure, though, they'd be watching.

"As a young kid, you dream of this and as you go on you realize how hard it is to really get to this point," he said. "There's been some obstacles along the way that have challenged me. But I truly believe that it led me to this point for a reason. I never stopped believing, and here we are today."

Spurgeon suits up

After missing eight games with a lower-body injury, Spurgeon returned against the Sharks.

The defenseman took Matt Dumba's spot next to Jonas Brodin; Dumba was under the weather but not in the COVID protocols, coach Dean Evason said.

This was Spurgeon's first game since he was hurt Nov. 20 at Florida.

"Going back for a puck and something went wrong," Spurgeon said of the injury.

While he was out, the Wild went 7-0-1 to widen its lead atop the Central Division.

"It was definitely fun to watch, and it makes being out a bit easier," Spurgeon said. "It takes that [pressure] off you to try and get back maybe a bit earlier than you're supposed to and then maybe come back too early."

Sticking out

Center Victor Rask scored once in the 4-1 win at Edmonton on Tuesday, but two goals came courtesy of his stick.

Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov capitalized on a breakaway in the third period while playing with one of Rask's old sticks.

"I took it a few practices ago," Kulikov said. "I liked it. I've been using his stick the last three games."