Report: Brunette Has Torn ACL

It's been pretty obvious since his consecutive games streak ended February 21. Minnesota Wild forward Andrew Brunette has only missed one game since, but he hasn't looked right since, either.

Speculation was rampant that Brunette had suffered some sort of ligament damage to his knee. Were he to have surgery, his season would likely (depending on the severity of the damage) be over. Instead, Brunette has forged ahead, continuing to be a fixture in the Wild lineup.

He should forever have the respect of his teammates, assuming a report by Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is true. Russo was unable to get confirmation from Brunette or general manager Doug Risebrough, but says Brunette has an ACL that is either fully or partially torn.

Brunette said after the Wild's 5-3 loss to St. Louis on Sunday night he'll "probably" have surgery. "I'll have to make a decision, but if it's going to be the way it is now, obviously I'll have to have it," said Brunette, the Wild's fourth-leading scorer with 40 points.

... Asked why he doesn't shut himself down, Brunette said: "It's the same approach I take to every hockey game I play. I want to play. I'm part of this team and I want to help this team win. I would sell myself short if I didn't try to help this team. You've got to look yourself in the mirror, and if I can get out there, I can help this team."

You can question the sanity of a man who is willing to go through so much just to play hockey games for a team that is a longshot at this point to make the Western Conference playoffs. You can't question his drive, his desire, or his heart. Brunette is exactly the guy young players like Colton Gillies, James Sheppard, Cal Clutterbuck, and others should look up to.

If the Wild continue to flounder and end up hopelessly out of the playoff race in the season's last week or so, will Brunette go under the knife early? It's possible, but even then, it might be a stretch.