A tough break for the Winnipeg Jets as another defenseman has gone down with a long-term injury. Head coach Paul Maurice told media Tuesday that Dmitry Kulikov will be out until at least the All-Star break near the end of January with an upper-body injury.
Kulikov left Friday's game against Anaheim in the first period and did not return. He also sat out Saturday's loss to the L.A. Kings. He's in the third year of a three-year contract with Winnipeg worth close to $13 million dollars ($4.33 AAV). In 25 games this season he has four points (one goal and three assists).
Fellow blueliner Nathan Beaulieu is currently on injured reserve with a hand injury. He had missed all of October after being injured in the final game of the preseason, and was put on IR again after returning for just nine games. Neal Pionk is the only Winnipeg defenseman to play every game so far ths season.
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Montreal goaltender Keith Kinkaid has cleared waivers and has been assigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL. Kinkaid had gone 1-1-3 with the Habs so far this season with a 4.24 GAA and a .875 save percentage, not exactly the kind of numbers the Habs were looking for when they signed him to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million in the offseason. Cayden Primeau will serve as Montreal's backup goalie for now.
Meanwhile, Toronto placed forward Nick Shore on waivers Tuesday, which is a pretty good sign that Mitch Marner will be returning to the lineup very soon, possibly as early as Wednesday's game against Colorado. According to Sportsnet, at least three more players will have to leave the main roster in order to free up the cap space needed for Marner's return. Shore will be assigned to the Toronto Marlies if not picked up by another team before noon ET Wednesday. Toronto also decided to call up defenseman Martin Marincin from the Marlies to the main roster.
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