Folin was one of the Wild's steadiest defensemen through the first part of the season and had formed a solid tandem with fellow Swede Jonas Brodin on the back end. After being scratched in the season opener, Folin played in the next 19 games, chipping in with two assists. His plus-8 was among the best on the team at the time of the injury and his size has offered the Wild a big, physical presence on the back end.
"We don't have a big defense and when he's gone, it makes it smaller," Boudreau said. "And he was playing really well with Brodin. It's always a big loss, but I think [Nate Prosser] has stepped in and done a really good job."
With Folin out, Prosser has picked up his game. He was on the ice in the final minute as Minnesota closed out its four-game Canadian road trip with a 3-2 win in Toronto on Wednesday.
If Folin is able to return, Minnesota would have a deep core of defensemen, something that has been a rarity this season. Folin, Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella have all missed time with injuries, although luckily for the Wild, not all at the same time.
