Winnipeg Jets Player News

DeMelo had no points and a minus-1 rating in two games with the Sharks. He has been swapped with Mirco Mueller, who is expected play on Thursday.

Niederreiter left Thursday’s game with an undisclosed injury, but he skated this morning which is a good sign that he will be available tonight vs. St. Louis. Niederreiter had one goal on one shot in 13:13 TOI before retiring to the dressing room.

Fleury, 19, was the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and he held on until the end of trading camp, but will head back to Red Deer, where he had 28 points (6G / 22A) in 63 games a season ago.

Niederreiter if fighting a nagging foot injury and will be held out of Thursday’s game in Nashville. He will be replaced by Sean Bergenheim and is listed as day-to-day.

The Panthers run to the playoffs will come without their leading scorer after Nick Bjugstad had season-ending lower back surgery on Friday. Bjugstad had 24 goals and 19 assists in 72 games this season for the Panthers, but had been hampered by a mysterious 'lower body' injury over the past few weeks.It has been an issue for awhile and the Panthers felt it was important to get the procedure done as soon as possible.

Bjugstad did not travel to Toronto, so he won’t play tonight and could miss the entire road trip. The Panthers have a back-to-back on the weekend so if Bjugstad doesn’t join the team on the trip, Vincent Trocheck will stay in the lineup through the weekend.

Bjugstad missed practice on Monday and is listed as doubtful for Tuesday’s game. Bjugstad has missed a lot of practices recently and he is dealing with lower-body “soreness.” Monitor his status during Tuesday’s morning skate.

The flu has been making its rounds around the Panthers locker room, so that is likely what Bjugstad is dealing with. Florida does not play again until Thursday, so he has plenty of time to get back on the ice and be ready for their matchup with the Jets.

Namestnikov, 22, has registered 35 points (14G / 21A) in 34 games with Syracuse this season. He will be in the lineup tonight vs. the Maple Leafs—the 2011 first-round pick has seven points (3G / 4A) in 26 games with the Lightning.

Bjugstad was listed as questionable with an undisclosed injury and the belief was that Vincent Trocheck was recalled to replace Bjugstad, but he will be in for Dave Bolland and Bjugstad is good to go. The 22-year-old has five goals in his last nine games.

Bjugstad is reportedly ailing a little bit which sparked the Panthers to recall Vincent Trocheck from San Antonio (AHL). Monitor Bjugstad’s status during warmups.

Namestnikov played 9:51 with one shot on goal last night vs. St. Louis. His return to the AHL suggests that Cedric Paquette should be ready to return on Sunday.

Namestnikov, 22, was with the Lightning earlier in the season, registering three goals and four assists (7 points) in 25 games. While in Syracuse he had 24 points (9G / 15A) in 26 games. There is no word whether he will be in the lineup on Thursday.

DeMelo, 21, has registered four goals and 11 assists (15 points) in 45 games with Worcester this season. With Marc-Edouard Vlasic on IR, DeMelo could make his NHL debut at some point this week.

With Lowry taking a seat, Patrice Cormier will enter the lineup vs. the Avalanche. Consider Lowry day-to-day.