Winnipeg Jets push off update on Nikolaj Ehlers injury to ‘maybe’ Saturday

Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports

The Winnipeg Jets won’t be offering up any updates to the injury status of star winger Nikolaj Ehlers until “maybe” Saturday.

This, according to assistant coach Scott Arniel, who continues to fill in for head coach Rick Bowness as he recovers from a bout with COVID-19.

“We’ll talk a little bit more about that maybe on Saturday,” Arneil told reporters after the Jets’ 5-2 loss at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.

It marked the second game in a row Ehlers missed with what’s been an undisclosed injury. After the team toppled the defending Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, Arniel described it as a nagging injury.

“We’re still trying to figure him out here. It’s been nagging,” Arniel said.

Drafted ninth overall in 2014, Ehlers has been a staple for the Jets since he joined them in 2015-16. He’s appeared in 480 games scoring 164 goals and 361 points.

This year, he got into two games before he was injured, notching three assists. Mason Appleton has slid up to the Jets’ top line alongside Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele scoring two assists in two games.

The Winnipeg Jets take on the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday, before the St. Louis Blues come to Canada Life Centre on Monday.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.