In the middle of what he hoped would be a breakout season, Justin Fontaine was set to sit out the Wild's home game Monday night, a healthy scratch for the first time this season.
"I just want to see him take a step in his career, because we have a lot of confidence in him in what he can do and what he can be as a player," coach Mike Yeo said.
Fontaine has two goals and six assists in 21 games, and the team still believes he can become a solid, third-line NHL forward.
"He has shown signs of it from game to game," Yeo said.