Winnipeg Jets Player News

Bjugstad was considered questionable after missing Tuesday's practice and will not play vs. the Avalanche. Luckily for the Wild, they will get both Mats Zuccarello and Zach Parise back in the lineup.

Kupari has played in the last three games but has yet to get on the scoresheet while going minus-2 with two PIMS and two shots. Look for Michael Amadio to draw in for him and for Kupari to go back to the AHL if he's not going to play at the NHL level.

"If he's with us now, he'll play," is what head coach Todd McLellan told the media following Thursday's practice session. Kupari is expected to skate on a line with Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore in his debut and comes up to the NHL after scoring two goals with seven assists (nine points) in his first eight AHL games of the 2021 season.

Gregor plated 7:42 TOI on Saturday but will be scratched for the third time in four games on Monday. Alexander True will replace him on the fourth line.

Namestnikov was listed as questionable after missing Thursday's practice but was ruled out on Friday morning. Darren Helm is expected to return from a lower-body injury to replace Namestnikov in the lineup.

Namestnikov was missing from practice on Thursday and his status for Friday's game vs. Florida is uncertain. Evgeny Svechnikov skated in his spot yesterday, so he could make his season debut if Namestnikov is unavailable.

The Jets will get Tucker Poolman back on Thursday and dress seven defensemen and 11 forwards, so Vesalainen will sit after playing in four straight games.

Vesalainen made his season debut vs. the Senators on January 23rd but was not in the lineup for the last three games. On Monday, he is expected to replace David Gustafsson in the Jets lineup and skate on the fourth line.

DeMelo has missed the first four games of the season to be with his wife for the birth of their child but is expected to make his season debut when the Jets return home on Saturday.

Vesalainen sat as a healthy scratch in the first three games of the season but will draw into the lineup on Thursday. Head coach Paul Maurice did not disclose who Vesalainen will replace but he comes in with one assist in five career NHL games.

The Sharks are looking for more production out of their bottom-6, so they will shake up all four lines, which includes Dylan Gambrell replacing Gregor in the lineup.