The Jets have overcome quite a bit of health challenges over the last month or so of the season which has seen the return of Nikolaj Ehlers, Blake Wheeler, Cole Perfetti, Nate Schmidt and Saku Maenalanen to the lineup.
The only two players who have been out long term and remain out are Mason Appleton and Logan Stanley. David Gustafsson is on IR but expected back this week.
Photos Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Appleton’s last game was back on November 13th against his former team in Seattle, after which he required wrist surgery which has kept him out of the lineup. Stanley was injured the first time this season back on October 24th with a lower-body injury from blocking a shot which kept him out until December 8th. He’d play a second straight game on December 9th but suffered a different lower-body injury which has kept him out of the lineup since.
Today following the optional morning skate head coach Rick Bowness provided this update on the pair when asked about his team’s health:
“I know Appleton and Stanley are coming with us this trip. They’re going to keep skating with us. They’re not close to playing but we need to keep them working with the team. So we are healthy as we can be right now.”
Back on November 16th the assessment on Appleton was 8-12 weeks for recovery. He’s now in week eight. And on December 11th there was no timeline given on Stanley aside from it being a “long term” injury that would keep him out of the lineup more than a month.
