Jared Spurgeon

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Spurgeon's path was never guaranteed; entering the 2008 draft unscouted and prepared to enroll in college, he had to prove his worth on the ice. During the 2007–08 season with the Spokane Chiefs, head coach Bill Peters praised his "real good on-ice vision" and noted that despite being an "undersized guy," Spurgeon competed like a "pit bull." This grit defined his early professional life as well. When he received his first NHL call-up to the Wild in 2010, sportswriter Michael Russo initially dismissed it as a joke due to Spurgeon's small stature. The team was so unprepared that only jersey number 46 was available for him in his size. He made his debut on November 29 against the Calgary Flames, playing 14:42 minutes and registering one shot on goal in a 3–0 loss.

In Their Own Story

Spurgeon's resilience shone through injuries and unexpected milestones throughout his tenure. In the 2008–09 season, he set franchise records for assists (35) and points (45) with the Chiefs while allowing a franchise-low 145 goals against. His professional breakthrough continued in the 2010–11 season when he recorded his first NHL point on January 25, 2011, followed by his first goal on February 22, 2011, against Nikolai Khabibulin of the Edmonton Oilers. He finished that debut season with only one penalty in over 50 games, a rare feat for any defenseman. His career has seen significant highs and lows, including an accidental own goal against the Phoenix Coyotes on December 31, 2011, and a concussion suffered on March 22 of the same year. Despite these setbacks, he returned to lead the team, even scoring a game-tying goal in Game 6 of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche to force a decisive Game 7.

Reader's Guide

Fans should track Spurgeon's evolution from a late-round draft pick to a franchise cornerstone. His early days involved playing alongside Tyler Ennis on minor teams before they were both cut from Bantam AAA due to their height, forcing them onto the Knights of Columbus Squires U15 AAA team. In college drafts, he was selected by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the 2005 Futures Draft but chose the WHL. His NHL tenure includes major contracts: a three-year extension on July 5, 2013; a four-year, $20.75 million deal on December 21, 2015; and a seven-year, $53.025 million contract on September 14, 2019. By the time of his second extension, he led all franchise defensemen in goals and blocked shots. He also spent time in Switzerland with SCL Tigers during the 2012–13 NHL lockout before returning to become a vital leader for the Wild.

Did You Know?

• Spurgeon was prepared to enroll in college as a backup plan because no hockey scouts had contacted him prior to the 2008 draft.
• Upon his first NHL call-up, the Wild's assistant equipment manager only had jersey number 46 available in Spurgeon's size.
• During his rookie NHL season (2010–11), Spurgeon finished with only one penalty in at least 50 games, a rare feat for a defenseman.
• Spurgeon and future teammate Tyler Ennis were both cut from their Bantam AAA team due to their short stature before playing together on the Knights of Columbus Squires U15 AAA team.