Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets Health Update: Dmitry Kulikov closing in on return

The 29-year-old defenceman is nearing a return to the lineup.

Veteran defenceman Dmitry Kulikov has been out of the Jets lineup since the first period of a game against the Ducks in Anaheim back on November 29th.  A few days after the injury occurred Jets bench boss Paul Maurice indicated that Kulikov was expected to be out with an upper-body injury until the All-Star Break (January 26th).

With Kulikov ditching his non-contact jersey for a normal one today at practice in Toronto his coach was asked if he could be ready for a return tomorrow night against the Leafs.  “Possibly an option tomorrow.  We’ll get him through his day here today.  See where he’s at.  I’m not sure I’m putting him into a back-to-back off that injury.  But he may be a player for us in one of the next two.”

His return would be roughly two weeks ahead of schedule and would help solidify the Jets backend during a critical stretch.