Zhilkin recalled by Jets, Fleury placed on IR

Danny Zhilkin could be on the verge of making his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets.

With a roster spot opening up as Haydn Fleury was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday afternoon, Zhilkin was recalled from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Zhilkin, who was chosen in the third round (77th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, is a smart, two-way centre with good speed and has seven goals and 14 points in 30 AHL games this season.

The news on Fleury was positive, as the Jets defenceman was released from hospital on Tuesday night after a scary incident saw him stretchered off the ice with 6:44 to go in the first period of the game with the Vegas Golden Knights.

“He’s got the broken nose, he’s got a bruised back. I’m not sure what that exactly means, but it’s not obviously at first what we thought, it’s not (as) serious,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “We were seeing him going off on a stretcher. So he’s banged up pretty good. He felt it. But, (it was) great seeing him here today and seeing him around the room.”

Fleury recently missed time with a concussion and his situation will continue to be monitored before the full extent of his injuries are known.

“You’ve got to kind of wait and see on it,” said Arniel. “I mean, bang your head like that, that hard, and him having some history with it – I’m not saying it’s a concussion yet. He still has to go through the next few days here, see how he feels. He may wake up three days from now and feel great. He may wake up three days from now and have some issues.”

The Jets, who have lost 10 consecutive games (0-6-4), are back in action on Thursday against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.