Goligoski is practicing on the third pairing Friday, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic.

EDGE Analysis

Goligoski has been a healthy scratch in each of his last six games and 12 of his last 13 contests and coach Dean Evason said that he would return to the lineup Saturday. The veteran defenseman was practicing on the third unit with Calen Addison. Goligoski is pointless in five games this season.

Goligoski hasn't gotten much work this season.

EDGE Analysis

Goligoski was a healthy scratch for Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss against Boston, but even before that he was being used sparingly. He logged 18:31 of ice time in his season debut on Oct. 13 followed by an average of just 12:58 over his next three games. This is after his steep decline from an average of 23:00 of ice time in 2020-21 to 18:56 last season. He's 37 now, so his fall is understandable and a comeback might not be in the cards.

Goligoski has been serving on a pairing with Jared Spurgeon throughout training camp, reports Michael Russo of The Athletic.

EDGE Analysis

That arrangement continued during Thursday's preseason game against Chicago. Goligoski logged 22:30 minutes and registered his second assist of the preseason. Last season, he saw his average ice time dip below 20 minutes for the first time since 2008-09. That's understandable given that he was 36 years old - now 37 - at the time, but he still appears to have something left in the tank.

Goligoski will not be in Friday's lineup against Seattle, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Goligoski is averaging 18:48 of ice time with 30 points through 69 games this season. The 36-year-old will get a night off as the Wild prepare for the postseason. Jordie Benn will take his place in the lineup and Goligoski could return as early as Sunday against Nashville.

Goligoski notched an assist, four blocked shots, two hits and a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Capitals.

EDGE Analysis

Goligoski has had an eventful week, sitting out three games as a scratch and signing a two-year contract extension. He's played in the last two contests with Jon Merrill (upper body) on the shelf, and he was able to snap a five-game point drought with his helper Sunday. For the season, Goligoski is at 29 points, 68 shots on net, 79 blocked shots, 48 hits and a plus-37 rating in a bottom-four role through 60 appearances.

Goligoski agreed to terms on a two-year, $4 million contract extension with the Wild on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran defenseman has been a stabilizing force on the Wild blue line this season, registering a plus-34 rating in 58 games. Goligoski has also added two goals and 28 points this year.

Goligoski will once again be a healthy scratch heading into Tuesday's matchup with the Flyers, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Goligoski's place in the lineup was always going to be tenuous once the Wild brought in Jacob Middleton at the deadline and now the 36-year-old veteran finds himself watching from the press box for a second straight contest. While Goligoski should push Dmitry Kulikov and Jon Merrill for a spot on the blue line, neither his eventual return or absence should impact the majority of fantasy players given his limited offensive upside.

Goligoski (undisclosed) will not play Sunday against Colorado, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's unclear if Goligoski is injured or if it's simply a rest game for the 36-year-old blueliner. He's tallied 28 points while averaging 19 minutes of ice time through 58 games this season. He'll be considered questionable for Tuesday's tilt with the Flyers until more information is available.

Goligoski notched two assists and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks.

EDGE Analysis

Goligoski helped out on Kevin Fiala's third-period equalizer and Marcus Foligno's game-winner in overtime. The 36-year-old Goligoski had been a bit quiet on offense with no points in his last three outings, which were sandwiched around two-game absence in the COVID-19 protocols. The defenseman has 23 points, 38 shots on net, 44 blocked shots, a plus-18 rating and 22 PIM in 32 contests -- he's surpassed his 22-point effort from 56 games with the Coyotes last season.

Goligoski was activated off the NHL's COVID-19 protocols list Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Goligoski will presumably return to a top-four role and a spot on one of Minnesota's power-play units Monday versus the Avalanche. The 36-year-old vet has racked up 21 points through 29 contests this campaign.