Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice is fearing a long-term absence for captain Blake Wheeler after he suffered a lower-body injury on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks.
“It’s going to be a while,” Maurice said after a 4-3 shootout loss. “We’ll get him looked at tomorrow. I’m not a doctor, but it’s going to be a while.”
Wheeler was hurt in a collision with teammate Nathan Beaulieu and the Canucks’ Vasili Podkolzin in front of the Jets’ net. He immediately grabbed his knee and skated off the ice.
The 35-year-old Wheeler has no goals and 14 assists in 21 games this season.
The veteran winger played his 1,000th career game last Sunday.
