Kyle Brodziak has been a virtual ironman since joining the Wild, appearing in 373 of 376 regular-season games.
But on Friday, he’ll be a healthy scratch for the second time in seven months.
“It’s just a matter of where other guys fit right now,” Wild head coach Mike Yeo explained prior to tonight’s game in Anaheim. “We’re happy with a lot of other people’s games.”
Brodziak, 30, was also parked during Minnesota’s opening-round playoff victory over Colorado in April, the first time he sat as a healthy scratch since his days in Edmonton. That, combined with today’s decision, is a fall from grace for a guy that scored a career-high 44 points in 2011-12 and finished second on the team in goals, with 22.
The veteran forward did appear in both of Minnesota’s games to start this season -- both wins -- averaging just under 11 minutes a night.
Tonight, Brodziak will be replaced by Justin Fontaine in the lineup. Fontaine is making his season debut and will skate on the second line; Jason Zucker will move down to Brodziak’s spot on the fourth line and skate with Matt Cooke and Ryan Carter.Yeo on Brodziak scratch: “we’re a deeper team. I’m not disappointed with his game at all.” #mnwild
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) October 17, 2014