Winnipeg Jets Player News

Originally the Blackhawks said that Toews injury was not that serious, but it will cost him at least the next two weeks. Reports are that Toews will be 100 per cent for playoffs, so you can't blame the Hawks for playing it safe and shutting him down when they have playoff spot locked up. The Blackhawks recalled Joakim Nordstrom on Wednesday, but there is no word how their lines will shakeout without Toews and Patrick Kane.

Toews was injured on Sunday and could miss Thursday's game. A number of Hawks players were absent at this morning's practice, so we will have a better idea of Toews' status on Thursday.

Toews was drilled by Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik with 6:30 remaining in the second period on Sunday night. The two were going for a loose puck. Toews got up slowly and was seen holding his left arm on the bench before heading down the runway. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville says he doesn't think the injury is serious, but the team would know more on Monday.

“I was pretty young,” said Nyquist, who was 14 at the time. “I’m not surprised, he was a great player.” Nyquist is on quite a roll. He has nine goals in his past six games and 20 goals in his past 24 games. He will continue skating on a line with Riley Sheahan and Tomas Tatar.

Nyquist added two goals to his total in last night's huge 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs. After starting the year in the minors, he now leads the Red Wings in goals with 19 and has added 16 assists for 35 points in 43 games this season. With tons of players out of the lineup, the Wings will continue to lean heavily on him down the stretch, you can as well.

Namestnikov was a minus-1 with four shots while averaging 9:28 TOI in four games with the Lightning during call-up. Getting Steven Stamkos back and shipping Martin St. Louis out, the Lightning send Namestnikov (a centre) down to recall a winger (Richard Panik) up.

Updating an earlier report, the original timetable was 6-8 weeks, but it sounds like that is worst case scenario. Expect him to land on IR and the Jets to call-up a centreman from St. John's (AHL).

This is a huge blow for the Jets. Scheifele is the Jets best two-way centre and this certainly hurts their chances at a playoff push, they are currently one-point out. With Scheifele out, this could force the Jets to be sellers at the deadline, rather than buyers.

Scheifele was hit by Calvin de Haan and appeared to suffer a knee injury. Scheifele did not return for the third period, but this could be a huge loss for the Jets if he misses a lengthy period of time. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday and the severity of his injury will reportedly alter how the Jets will approach the trade deadline.

Namestnikov was the Lightning's 1st round pick (27th overall) in 2011. Tonight he will make his NHL debut on a line with J.T Brown and Nikita Kucherov, a line that played very well for Lightning head coach Jon Cooper when he was with Syracuse (AHL). Namestnikov has 13 goals and 17 assists (30 points) in 31 games with Syracuse (AHL) this season.

Nyquist has missed the last three games with a groin injury that he suffered on December 15. His return is important for a team who has been ravished by injuries.

With Nyquist out tonight Riley Sheahan will draw into the lineup. Nyquist is considered day-to-day but groin injuries usually keep a player out for 7-10 days.

There is no word on why Nyquist is absent from practice. It would be a terrible break for a team who is already down four forwards. We will get an update following the morning skate.

After he plays two games, he will be there to stay because he will have to go through waivers to get back to the AHL. The Red Wings will obviously not place him on waivers, because he would immediately be claimed. Nyquist led the Grand Rapids Griffins with 21 points (7G / 14A) in 15 games. Hopefully the talented forward sparks the Red Wings quiet offence. Expect him to skate on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen.

Gustav Nyquist earned a spot on the Detroit Red Wings' roster based on his performance last season but was a victim of the salary cap and the club's roster squeeze. Nyquist leads the Griffins with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 15 games. Once he plays two more NHL games, he is here to stay, because he would then need to pass through waivers to be sent back to the AHL. Perhaps Nyquist will play on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, since there was an open space there in practice Wednesday.

Nyquist has been in the AHL as a victim of a numbers game in Detroit. They are pressed up against the cap, but only have 11 healthy forwards right now and with Danny DeKeyser landing on Long Term IR there is room for Nyquist to be called up. In 15 games with Grand Rapids Nyquist has seven goals and 21 points which is tied for fourth in the league.

Niederreiter has moved around this lineup throughout the early part of the season, but found himself re-united with Parise and Koivu in practice this morning. He has one goal and three assists in nine games with his new team.

Bjugstad was activated from the IR on Sunday and will enter the lineup tonight on a line with Tomas Kopecky and Krys Barch.

The fifth overall pick in 2010 never got a chance when he was with the Islanders, but is finally getting his shot with the WIld. He has two assists in three games, but definitely receives a boost in value playing on the Minnesota top line.

Nyquist being sent down is a product of the Red Wings being pressed up against the cap. He is waiver-exempt, so he can be sent down and called back up without any risk. Nyquist is clearly talented enough to play for the Red Wings, but is victim of a numbers game. He will most certainly be back in the Red Wings uniform soon.