11°c Overcast
18°c Light rain
WINNIPEG JETS
Record: 24 – 21 – 3
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Bogo looks ready to go-go against Pens tonight
He says it's coach's decision, coach giving positive signals
JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Zach Bogosian says he's recovered from wrist surgery.
NOT even Jets head coach Claude Noel could come up with a reason to keep recovered defenceman Zach Bogosian from his first game of the NHL season tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins (6 p.m., CBC, TSN 1290).
Still, the coach waffled slightly on Thursday, if only for a little gamesmanship with the visiting Penguins.
Bogosian said Thursday he's all the way back from off-season wrist surgery that has kept him out of the Jets' first 12 games.
"A game-time decision but it looks like he's ready to go," Noel said.
"He's ready to go. I'm not sure I would hold him out of there. He has good passion. He probably has over-passion tomorrow. He's that thoroughbred that wants to get going. I'd have to be holding him back a bit if he plays."
His advice to the 22-year-old fifth-year pro was simple: "Don't try to overdo things."
Bogosian pronounced himself ready to go on Thursday.
"Coach's decision," Bogosian said. "I haven't heard anything yet, but I had another good practice today and I'm feeling good."
If it were up to him?
"I feel like I'm ready to play," he said. "Like I said, it's coach's decision. I'm not sure what's in store for tomorrow, but definitely I feel good, I feel ready."
Bogosian said Thursday he knew he was on the fast track to game action a few weeks ago when he was pain-free when taking slapshots.
"The biggest step for me was when I started taking slapshots," he said. "Ever since I've been taking slapshots, it's been feeling pretty good."
-- -- --
Noel was asked Thursday if the questions about racially motivated comments directed toward left-winger Evander Kane were any distraction to the forward or the team.
His answer: "Evander's Evander. I don't have much to comment on those things. I don't even know the Twitter world. I know it for what it brings and shows up, but I'm not in it. I don't read it and I don't even know how it works and I'd rather just keep it that way for myself.
"It's hard for me to comment on that world. All I know is that Evander is a good player for us. He can be a good player. He's very coachable and I like him. He's a good part of our team, and for me, I'm trying to get him to play in the way that he's also trying to get himself to play.
"Those other things are things that have to get managed. Do I view them as a distraction to our team? I think our players handle things as well as they can."
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 15, 2013 C2
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Winnipeg Jets
- Back to Top
- Return to Winnipeg Jets
Poll
Most Popular Winnipeg Jets
- Ready for prime time
- Jets cut ties to ECHL club
- Jets sign defenceman
- Winnipeg Jets among most expensive pro teams to watch
- Scheifele’s dominance makes Jets look wise
- Kane's days are numbered in 'Peg
- Colts drop Game 7 in OHL final
- Buff just 'sitting around a lot' now
- Jets prospect Lowry named WHL's player of the year
- Chevy's choice: Stick with Noel or pursue Vigneault
- Ready for prime time
- Jets cut ties to ECHL club
- Winnipeg Jets among most expensive pro teams to watch
- Scheifele’s dominance makes Jets look wise
- Colts drop Game 7 in OHL final
- Chevy's choice: Stick with Noel or pursue Vigneault
- Kane's days are numbered in 'Peg
- Jets sign defenceman
- Jets have Olli on board
- Jets prospect Lowry named WHL's player of the year
- Enough of Buff: Get rid of him
- For first time, Jets GM Cheveldayoff is poised to put stamp on the franchise
- Chevy's choice: Stick with Noel or pursue Vigneault
- Young prospects will get every opportunity to stick with the big club: Cheveldayoff
- It's broke - Fix it
- Jets' playoff hopes dealt fatal blow
- This end-of-season scenario old, and Jets fans and players know it
- Win against Montreal Jets' last hope in playoff push
- Jets edge Sabres
- Caps just too much for Jets
- Enough of Buff: Get rid of him
- Winnipeg Jets among most expensive pro teams to watch
- It's broke - Fix it
- Summer could be a sizzler
- Chevy's choice: Stick with Noel or pursue Vigneault
- Saturday's game had it all -- what a blast
- Jets edge Sabres
- For first time, Jets GM Cheveldayoff is poised to put stamp on the franchise
- Current Jets tackle trivia test — and so can you
- Jets down two more key players
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.