The Winnipeg Jets’ blueline was dealt yet another significant blow Tuesday.
Jacob Trouba will be out of the team’s lineup until February with an upper-body injury, coach Paul Maurice told local reporters.
“It is a big challenge,” Maurice said. “Jake had been involved in some big goals and he drives the offence and a power-play unit that was getting better.”
The 23-year-old Trouba has four goals and eight assists in 31 games during his sophomore season, leading all Jets defencemen in points.
Trouba’s “preexisting condition” won’t require surgery and is not related to the neck injury he suffered at the world championships last spring.
With Trouba sidelined, Winnipeg’s three most-used defencemen are all out of the lineup.
Zach Bogosian and Tobias Enstrom both sit on injured reserve with lower-body injuries.
“It’s more of a defensive concern with the three guys out,” Maurice said. “All three kill penalties for us, so we need to get better in that department.”
Winnipeg (15-10-6) hosts the red-hot Buffalo Sabres (13-16-2) Tuesday night.
