The Minnesota Wild were dealt brutal news on Sunday, as top defenceman Ryan Suter suffered a fractured fibula and is out indefinitely, according to Sarah McLellan of the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Suter's right foot crashed heavily into the boards on Saturday's game against the Dallas Stars, and needed assistance getting off the ice. The 33-year-old's season is now in jeopardy, and it seems probable he'll at least miss the team's opening round playoff series, likely to be against the Winnipeg Jets.

It's a brutal blow for the Wild, who need their Norris Trophy-caliber blueliner for the playoffs. Suter has six goals and 45 assists on the season - already tying his career-best in points from two seasons ago. He was averaging 26:47 time on ice per game, and the Wild simply don't have a guy who can step up and fill in for Suter.

Other top blueliner Jared Spurgeon has been nursing a hamstring and was ruled out for up to four weeks back in mid-March. He has yet to return, and the Wild certainly need him to be read for the playoffs.

Minnesota sits at 43-25-10 on the season with 96 points. The rival Nashville Predators have clinched top spot in the Central Division, while the Jets are locked in at second. Barring a miracle, the Wild will retain the third seed in the Central and face Winnipeg in the opening round.

The Jets have been a top-tier team in 2017-18, thanks to the contributions from superstars Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor. Though Minnesota is one of the stingiest teams in the league (again), it's going to be tough for them to defend against this high-flying Jets team without Suter.

The playoffs begin on Apr. 11, and it's hard to envision Suter coming back before then. If he does play again this year, the Wild will have had to get through at least the first round, and perhaps even the second.

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