Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness said Thursday the team will have to make a decision "very soon" on what the next step is with injured forward Nikolaj Ehlers.
Ehlers has been on the IR since Oct. 18 with an undisclosed lower-body injury.
The 26-year-old from Denmark skated on his own Wednesday but was absent from Thursday's practice, prompting questions about his recovery process from reporters.
"He obviously didn’t skate today and we’re going to have to make a call here, eventually very soon here, what we’re going to do with him," Bowness said.
Ehlers had three assists in two games prior to leaving the lineup.
When asked if Ehlers required surgery or not, Bowness replied "nothing's off the table with Nikolaj right now."
"[Those] decisions, other people will make but as we speak right now we’re not there," Bowness said. "I know I’m talking around the question, but I can’t give you the definitive answer on that. I can’t."
Ehlers, who was drafted ninth overall by the Jets in 2014, has been one of Winnipeg's top wingers surpassing the 20-goal plateau every year over the past six seasons. He was fifth on the team in scoring last season with 55 points (28 goals and 27 assists) in 62 games.
The Jets are second in the Central Division with a 9-4-1 record (19 points) and play host to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.
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