Scheifele, Vilardi continue to convalesce

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This article was published 24/01/2024 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — Rick Bowness was quick to dismiss a question about whether Gabriel Vilardi had suffered a setback.

When the Winnipeg Jets was asked about the status of the top-line winger Wednesday morning, Bowness didn’t reveal much about the nature of the lower-body injury or if Vilardi might be available for the rematch with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

“Day-to-day,” said Bowness. “Nope (there wasn’t a setback). Just kept him off the ice.”

Vilardi, who has 11 goals and 20 points in 26 games this season, missed a second-consecutive game Wednesday with an undisclosed lower-body issue that he suffered in Saturday’s game with the Ottawa Senators.

Along with centre Mark Scheifele missing a fifth-consecutive game with a suspected groin injury, it left the Jets without two-thirds of their top trio.

Scheifele was on the ice for a fourth-consecutive day Wednesday and he continues to progress from the injury he suffered on Jan. 11 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Might he be under consideration to return on Saturday night or will the time during the player bye week and the NHL All-Star break mean the Jets simply decide to hold him out until Feb. 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins?

“Day-to-day. Nice try,” said Bowness. “We’ll always put his health first. He’ll let us know when he’s ready.”

Scheifele has 14 goals and 41 points in 41 games this season.

Knies thinking of former linemate

During his time with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey program, Maple Leafs forward Mathew Knies spent some time playing on a line during the 2021-22 season with Jets prospect Chaz Lucius and Colorado Avalanche forward Ben Meyers.

Lucius chipped in nine goals and 19 points in 24 games during that NCAA season before ankle surgery prematuely ended his freshman season with the Golden Gophers.

Knies was disappointed to hear about Lucius’s pending season-ending ankle surgery recently announced by Manitoba Moose head coach Mark Morrisson, but had plenty of complimentary things to say about him as a player.

“I always keep up with the players I’ve played with. I know he’s been battling injuries for the past few years, which sucks,” said Knies. “Every time (Lucius) shot the puck, it was pretty automatic that it was in the back of the net. He could just beat goalies. I felt like low blocker was his spot that he could always beat them there. He’s a smart player. He made great plays. Every attribute that he had was really good. There wasn’t something that he had as a weakness.”

Unfortunately for Lucius, a series of injuries has stunted his development and now he will be forced to focus on working his way back from another injury as he prepares for Jets training camp in the fall.

Lucius, chosen 18th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, had two goals and 13 points in 17 American Hockey League games this season after recording two goals and five points in 12 AHL games last season before joining the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League last season.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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