One of the Winnipeg Jets’ top offensive weapons is inching closer to returning to the lineup, as forward Kyle Connor returned to full practice on Monday.
According to Jets’ color commentator, Mitchell Clinton, the 27-year-old was on the ice prior to practice beginning wearing a full-contact jersey, working with teammate Gabriel Vilardi.
Connor has been out of the lineup since Dec. 10 when he was injured in a game against the Anaheim Ducks in a knee-on-knee collision . He has missed the last 16 games, in which the Jets got red-hot, going 12-2-2. Their eight-game win streak was snapped by the Philadelphia Flyers this past Saturday.
Seeing Connor in a regular jersey at practice is sure to drive optimism, as his original diagnosis was that the former Michigan Wolverine was going to be out six-to-eight weeks with the lower-body injury. He has been skating in non-contact jersey since late last month, and has been progressing at an exceptional rate.
There has been no official update on when Connor will return to the lineup, but when he does, he will jolt an already confident team that has worked their way into the President’s Trophy conversation.
Prior to the injury, Connor had scored 17 goals and 11 assists in 26 games. Despite having not played in over a month, he is still fifth on the Jets in scoring, 13 points back of Mark Scheifele, who is also out of the lineup.
In 492 career NHL games, Connor has scored 226 goals and 226 assists, with another 27 points in 40 playoff games.
The Shelby Township, Michigan native is in the fifth year of an eight-year contract with an AAV of over $7 million.
Winnipeg (28-10-4) remains atop the Central Division, one point ahead of the Colorado Avalanche. They are also just one point back of the Vancouver Canucks for first place in the NHL. They will next be hosting the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
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