Head coach Scott Arniel informed reporters in New York City that defenceman Logan Stanley was back in Winnipeg, recovering from a lingering “mid-body” injury that had been bothering him for the past week or so. As a result, Stanley has been placed on injured reserve.
“We decided it was time to shut him down,” Arniel explained. “He’s been playing through a lot of pain. We’ll assess how he’s doing once we return home.”
Stanley had appeared in the previous 11 games for Winnipeg, recording a goal and two assists while averaging 15:13 of ice time, contributing to the team’s historic 14-1 start to the season.
The 26-year-old missed the first four games of the season after undergoing knee surgery during training camp. Injuries have been a recurring issue for him, limiting him to just 44 games over the past two seasons.
Stanley’s injury came at a time when fellow defenseman Ville Heinola was finally cleared to shed his non-contact jersey. Heinola, who had been practicing in a yellow non-contact jersey due to an ankle infection he had surgery for during training camp, is now fully cleared for contact.
“He’s good to go now, it’s all about conditioning and getting into full practices and game-type situations,” Arniel said. However, the coach was cautious when asked about Heinola’s potential season debut, noting that the team doesn’t want to rush him back. “We want him to be available for the rest of the year, not just for one game. We need to make sure his conditioning and readiness are up to par.”
Arniel didn’t rule out a conditioning stint with the Manitoba Moose for Heinola, especially with Stanley’s injury complicating the blue line situation.
With Stanley sidelined, Haydn Fleury was called up to the lineup to face the Rangers on Tuesday. Fleury had played in Winnipeg’s first four games before being replaced by Stanley.
“Excited to get back in,” Fleury said. “Arnie told me on Monday, so I called my wife. It’s an early game, so my older son can watch. He’s really getting into it now.” Fleury will reunite with Colin Miller, his defensive partner during training camp.
“We had a good partnership going,” Fleury said. “I think he’s been playing well this season. I’ll jump in and try to pick up where we left off.”
Fleury admitted that watching from the press box for the past 11 games wasn’t ideal. “The games are a little too slow up there. You don’t get the true feel of how the game is played from that angle.”
To stay prepared, Fleury works with a coach who reviews his shifts and keeps him engaged. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned what works for me,” he said. “When I come in, I try to keep it simple early. Get a good first shift, make a strong pass, get into the game. Once I settle in, the game slows down and I can build from there.”
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