Sheppard Injured

  Minnesota Wild center James Sheppard with reportedly miss up to four months after sustaining a knee injury in an ATV accident in Vail, Colorado. The news comes as a major blow to Sheppard and his Minnesota Wild club.

  The 22 year-old has already had surgery to repair his knee cap, but the long-lasting injury worries for Sheppard could reach out beyond this coming year. Re-signed in June to a one year contract, he heads into his fourth year pro – all of which have been played for the Wild. The 1st round draft pick (9th overall) of 2006 is a prime prospect for the Wild and has been thought to be a great success in the NHL in his future. The hope is that the damage isn’t too serious, but  on the chance that his time out reaches much further than a four month recovery, he might be on his way out of Minnesota come the end of the year.

  His odd-ball injury is the second in recent months as Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo sustained an Achilles tendon tear while reportedly playing floor hockey in Finland during the off-season.

  Sheppard had two goals and four assists in 64 games for the Wild last season. He has 11 goals and 38 assists in 224 games over his three seasons spent in the NHL, all with the Wild.

- Kendall Grubbs