In Sunday’s loss to the Marlies the Moose didn’t just lose the game. They also lost leading scorer and Jets prospect Nikita Chibrikov (2021 2nd) to a lower-body injury. He went in for a hit in the 1st period and his leg sort of buckled as you can see below.
Here was the play that left Jets prospect Nikita Chibrikov unable to put weight on his right leg.
He’s a tough customer so if he’s not getting up it isn’t insignificant.
He isn’t out to start the 2nd period. pic.twitter.com/FZNEIFFMh3
— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) January 19, 2025
He was unable to put any weight on his leg and had to be helped back to the room.
Now if you know the feisty winger you know that it takes a lot to keep him down on the ice. So it was clear from his reaction that whatever happened it was serious.
Today after Moose practice we got an update from head coach Mark Morrison who indicated
“He’s long-term. I don’t know what the doctors have said yet but he’s not short-term put it that way. He’s going to be long-term and it’s a big loss for us.”
Asked if he will require surgery he said he isn’t prepared to go there yet as he hasn’t received an update from the medical team. Regardless it’s a tough loss for the leading scorer of Manitoba and for the development of the Jets prospect.
