Winnipeg Jets place Nikolaj Ehlers on injured reserve

The Winnipeg Jets have placed forward Nikolaj Ehlers on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 18.

At the bare minimum, Ehlers will miss Winnipeg’s next two games against Toronto on Saturday and St. Louis on Monday.

Ehlers has missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury. Assistant coach Scott Arniel, who is filling in for Rick Bowness as he recovers from COVID-19, described it as a “nagging” injury earlier this week.

Ehlers has three assists in two games with the Jets this year, highlighted by a two-game performance during Winnipeg’s home opener last Friday. He missed significant time with a knee injury last year, but was on pace for a career-best point total after recording 28 goals and 55 points in 62 games. Ehlers is one of Winnipeg’s top stars, tallying 164 goals and 361 points in 480 games over eight seasons.

With Ehlers out, the Jets have recalled Dominic Toninato from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. The 28-year-old has been a frequent call-up candidate throughout his career and even played 77 games with the big club last year, totaling seven goals and 14 points. Toninato has 29 points in 164 career games with Colorado, Florida and Winnipeg since getting drafted by Toronto in the fifth round in 2012.

Mason Appleton has slid into a top-line role with Ehlers out. Rookie Cole Perfetti has also looked good with three points, continuing from where he finished things off before an injury ended his season early. Sam Gagner, an off-season addition, has also tallied a pair of goals, while defenseman Neal Pionk leads all Jets players with four points.

The Jets hold a 2-2-0 record after losing 5-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.