Injured Winnipeg Jets Dylan Samberg and Cole Perfetti could get into practice contact by end of road trip

Before departing for Los Angeles on Monday, the Winnipeg Jets held a practice that centered around several key injury updates. While much of the attention was on the absent Morgan Barron (week-to-week) and Gustav Nyquist (day-to-day), and the imminent return of captain Adam Lowry, there were also developments regarding defenceman Dylan Samberg and forward Cole Perfetti — both of whom remained in yellow non-contact jerseys.

Samberg has been sidelined since September 27 in Calgary, when what head coach Scott Arniel described as a “freak accident” resulted in a broken wrist. The injury was initially expected to keep him out for six to eight weeks. Now roughly five and a half weeks removed from the incident, Samberg has returned to practice and has begun shooting the puck again.

Perfetti’s injury came about a week later, during the final exhibition game. Late in the second period, he went to finish a check and left the game with a lower-body issue. The following day, the team announced he would be considered week-to-week. One month later, Perfetti is skating well and showing encouraging signs of progress.

Before the team departed for its six-game, two-week road trip, Arniel confirmed that both Samberg and Perfetti would be traveling with the group.

“Yeah, they’re coming,” Arniel said. “They’re still in yellow jerseys. They’re getting closer — they haven’t really gotten into contact yet. A little closer to that, but I think we still have to get to that phase before we really start talking about them. There is a chance on this road trip near the end of it.”

The Jets have two practices scheduled this week — Thursday and Saturday. Starting on Sunday in Anaheim they’ll play every other day, concluding the trip in Calgary, meaning practice opportunities could be limited next week.

While there’s no firm timeline yet for either player’s return, both Samberg and Perfetti appear to be trending in the right direction.