Jets Lose Top Line Scorer Vilardi After ‘Freak’ Accident

The Winnipeg Jets will be without one-third of their top line for the remainder of the 2024-25 NHL season.

Gabriel Vilardi suffered an upper-body injury in the third period during the Jets 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

Head coach Scott Arniel described it as a freak injury and is unrelated to the puck to the head that Vilardi took in the games opening period.

Vilardi missed 35 games in 2023-24 after suffering a sprained MCL.

The pending restricted free agent has 61 points (27G, 34A) in 71 games, all of which are career highs for the 25-year-old.

This is a serious blow to the Jets, as Vilardi is part of the teams league-leading first-line scoring.

Many are looking at what the team mightve done at the trade deadline for injury insurance, but nobody couldve predicted this.

With Vilardi officially listed as week-to-week, John Lu of TSN noted that the Jets forward will miss the remainder of the regular season and that his playoff status is undetermined.

The Jets are already dealing with another key player out week-to-week in Neal Pionk whos been out since March 11th.

Pionk remains out with a lower-body injury and Arniel has mentioned that Pionk has yet to resume skating.

Heading into the final stretch of games in the 2024-25 season, the Winnipeg Jets continue their heritage homestand when they welcome the Washington Capitals.

Winnipeg owns the second-best record in the NHL while Washington owns the best record.

Meanwhile, both teams own the best records in their respective conferences.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission..

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