Kyle Connor out six to eight weeks

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This article was published 12/12/2023 (892 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAN JOSE — Sure, it could have been worse. A season-ender wasn’t out of the question when Kyle Connor was victimized by a dangerous knee-on-knee hit on Sunday night in Anaheim. Word the Winnipeg Jets top scorer could be fully recovered in six-to-eight weeks is still a bitter pill to swallow for the club.

The Jets are left with a major hole in the lineup as they try to hang with the heavyweights of the Central Division and Western Conference.

“Listen, he’s an elite player, an elite goal scorer. So we’re not asking anyone to be Kyle Connor. That’s not realistic,” coach Rick Bowness said Tuesday, a few hours before the Jets faced the San Jose Sharks in the third stop of a four-game road trip.

Connor, 27, had an MRI done on his knee in the Bay Area on Monday, he then flew back to Winnipeg to be further evaluated by team doctors. Multiple sources said the six-to-eight week internal timeline is viewed as the best-case scenario but could be subject to change.

Connor leads the Jets with 17 goals and 28 points through 26 games, which had him on pace to establish career highs. He was left in a crumpled heap by Ducks forward Ryan Strome, who was given a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct. Curiously, the NHL opted not to impose any further sanctions.

“I respectfully disagree with the league,” said Bowness. “I still think it’s a suspendable offence. I felt it then, I’ve looked at it a number of times and I still feel that way.”

The injury forced some roster juggling for the Jets. Gabe Vilardi, who recently returned from his own knee injury (sprained MCL) that cost him 18 games, took Connor’s spot on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers.

“Just gotta go in and try to play my game. I’m not going to replace KC. He’s the best goal scorer in the world, in my opinion,” Vilardi said following the morning skate. “It’s an opportunity for other guys, including myself, to step up. We need more goal scoring now, obviously with our top goal scorer out of the lineup.”

Morgan Barron was bumped up to Vilardi’s spot on the second line with Cole Perfetti and Vlad Namestnikov, while Axel Jonsson-Fjallby came in on the fourth line with Alex Iafallo and David Gustafsson. Only the third line of Adam Lowry, Nino Niederreiter and Mason Appleton remained intact.

The Jets have not yet called up another forward from the Manitoba Moose, as they still currently have 12 healthy ones on the roster. Connor now joins forward Rasmus Kupari (shoulder) and defenceman Ville Heinola (ankle) on the injured list.

“What we are asking our players is to make sure every game, every period, every shift to be the best version of themselves to make up for it,” said Bowness.

“You don’t replace Kyle Connor, to think someone else is going to step in there and do that is just completely unrealistic. But what is within our control is for each and every player to make sure they’re at their best every shift, every period, every game, and we’ll go from there.”

Like his coach, Vilardi was also puzzled by the NHL turning a blind eye to the crime against Connor, just as he was when former Los Angeles teammate Blake Lizotte took him out in the fourth game of the season without anything more than a two-minute minor for tripping.

“I’m not surprised. I don’t know how it works (with the NHL). I don’t want to say anything that’s going to get me in trouble,” said Vilardi, who will face Lizotte on Wednesday night as the road trip wraps up against the Kings.

“(Connor) has a similar injury. It’s unfortunate that he’s got to go through that now. I’ve been there.”

SCHMIDT SPEAKS — Nate Schmidt admits it’s been a difficult few weeks. The 32-year-old had been a healthy scratch for four straight games, and six already this year, until he drew back into the lineup on Tuesday night.

“There’s more than just playing to being part of a team. If you bring a negative vibe to the room it really does mess things up,” he said prior to puck drop. “You’ve got to take that away from the rink. Get that stuff out away from the guys, because I think that’s something that’s easily transferable.”

Schmidt is making US$5.925 million this season (second only among defencemen to Josh Morrissey) and had just one assist through 20 games. The Jets have a clear-cut top five on the blue-line, with Schmidt now rotating with Logan Stanley and Declan Chisholm for that final spot or two, should they elect to dress 11 forwards and seven defencemen.

“You know, we’re playing well, and you don’t want to add a snippet of doubt anywhere,” Schmidt said of keeping the right attitude while waiting for opportunity to come knocking.

“Guys are checking in on me, which is awesome, but at the same time you’ve got to realize this is part of it. You gotta make sure what has happened, happened. You can’t control that. But it’s good to be able to get your name called back in again.”

Unlike the forwards, the defencemen have been the picture of health so far this year (other than Ville Heinola, who broke his ankle in the final preseason game and is getting closer to a return, which will only add to the competition). Schmidt knows things can change fast in this sport, so there’s no sense sulking.

“It’s something where when you’re a good team, you have good players. And we are a good team,” said Schmidt. “Being scratched for a couple games doesn’t diminish the fact of how I feel I am as a player. You can’t let that bug you, because that’s a slippery slope and then you get into a confidence problem.”

Bowness tipped his cap to Schmidt, saying he’s handled a difficult situation with class.

“I know it’s eating him up inside. Everybody wants to play,” he said. “He’s worked very hard at practice, his attitude has been outstanding. Internally, I’m sure it’s driving him crazy.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg