Nick Foligno suffers upper‑body injury, leaves Wild game in Buffalo

Minnesota Wild forward Nick Foligno left Tuesday night’s road game against the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury. The 38-year-old veteran departed early from a contest the Wild went on to lose 3-2 in overtime after holding an early two-goal lead.

Awkward collision with Dahlin, short night for Foligno

The Wild did not provide specifics on when the injury occurred, but Foligno was involved in an awkward collision earlier in the game with Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin. On the play, Dahlin pushed through an attempted hit from Foligno, leading to an off-balance contact between the two players.

Foligno finished the night with only five shifts and 3:29 of ice time before heading to the dressing room. Without him, Minnesota was unable to protect a 2-0 cushion against the team that now employs his brother, Marcus Foligno. Buffalo completed the comeback in overtime to take the win on home ice.

First full season in Minnesota off to bumpy start

Foligno had dressed for each of the Wild’s first three games this season, scoring in the club’s season opener against the Nashville Predators. That goal stood as his only point so far in the 2026-27 campaign. He entered Tuesday’s matchup with a plus-minus of plus-2 while averaging 13:11 of ice time per game.

This year marks Foligno’s first full season with Minnesota. The Wild acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of last season’s trade deadline in a deal for future considerations, after his stint as captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Following the trade, he produced four points over 17 regular-season games, helping Minnesota secure third place in the Central Division.

In the 2025-26 playoffs, Foligno added two goals and one assist in 11 games as the Wild reached the second round before being eliminated by the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

Short-term deal, long NHL résumé

Foligno chose to remain with the Wild in the off-season, re-signing on a one-year contract carrying a $900,000 cap hit. The injury now clouds the early stages of that short-term agreement, with no immediate timetable publicly disclosed for his return.

Over the course of his lengthy NHL career, the Buffalo native has appeared in 1,289 regular-season games, recording 252 goals and 361 assists for 613 points. He has also posted 30 points in 79 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Minnesota’s depth up front will be tested if Foligno is forced to miss additional time following Tuesday’s setback in Buffalo.