Although Heinola (ankle) isn't with the Jets in Detroit for Wednesday's road game, he has resumed skating back in Winnipeg, per Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Heinola isn't expected to be close to returning, but this is a good step on his road to recovery. He underwent ankle surgery in September after he suffered an infection related to a screw from a previous operation. Heinola had an assist in 10 appearances with the Jets in 2022-23. During the 2023-24 campaign, he recorded 10 goals and 27 points across 41 regular-season outings with AHL Manitoba.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Placed on injured reserve
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Heinola (ankle) has been designated for injured reserve, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press reports Monday.
Heinola had ankle surgery in September, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to see him land on injured reserve ahead of the upcoming campaign. The 23-year-old blueliner has managed just 35 NHL games in his career, garnering one goal, 10 assists and 49 shots on net. With Logan Stanley (knee) also on injured reserve, youngster Elias Salomonsson could make the Jets' Opening Night roster.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Undergoes surgery
Rotowire
Heinola, who has an ankle infection, underwent surgery, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports Thursday.
Heinola previously underwent ankle surgery last year and his infection is related to a screw from that operation, based on a report from Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press last Friday. There's no timetable for Heinola's return, but McIntyre believes he'll be out for at least another month. The 23-year-old defenseman was originally in the mix for a spot on the Jets' Opening Night roster, but he might instead spend some time in the minors after he recovers.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Battling ankle infection
Rotowire
Heinola is dealing with an ankle infection that is far worse than day-to-day, per Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press on Friday.
Heinola sustained a fractured ankle in the 2023-24 preseason, which required surgery to repair. The infection is to the same ankle and will prevent him from competing for a spot on Winnipeg's blue line for Opening Night. The Jets expect to know more about his status in a week or so, but this will probably impact his availability for the start of the season.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Pens two-year pact
Rotowire
Heinola signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract with Winnipeg on Monday.
Heinola accumulated 10 goals and 27 points in 41 regular-season appearances with AHL Manitoba in 2023-24. He also had two assists in two playoff outings. Heinola has provided one goal and 10 helpers in 35 career NHL contests. The 23-year-old defenseman will compete for a spot on Winnipeg's bottom pairing at training camp.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Headed for minors
Rotowire
Heinola (ankle) has been medically cleared and will be reassigned to AHL Manitoba on Thursday, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports.
Heinola will suit up for the first time this season with the Moose but will have to wait a while to make his NHL season debut. Over the last four seasons, the 22-year-old blueliner has logged just 25 NHL contests. As such, fantasy players probably shouldn't be banking on him featuring prominently for the Jets this year.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Making California trip
Rotowire
Heinola (ankle) will join the Jets for their upcoming three-game road trip, John Lu of TSN reports Tuesday.
Heinola was originally expected to not return prior to the team's trip but may have taken an additional step in his recovery. Still, the 22-year-old blueliner's presence on the trip doesn't guarantee he will get into the lineup. Whenever Heinola is cleared to play, he will need to be activated off injured reserve, which will likely result in Declan Chisholm or Logan Stanley being shipped down to the minors.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Return not imminent
Rotowire
Heinola (ankle) is expected to miss at least the next five games, John Lu of TSN reports Friday.
Heinola will have to wait until the calendar flips to 2024 to make his season debut after suffering his ankle injury during the preseason. It's unclear if the defender suffered a setback in his recovery but he has already passed his initial 8-12 week recovery timeline.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Begins skating Tuesday
Rotowire
Heinola (ankle) was on the ice without gear Tuesday but isn't yet nearing a return, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Heinola was given a 2-3 month recovery timeline in October and is still on track to meet that target, according to coach Rick Bowness. Considering the 22-year-old defender has a combined 35 NHL games over the last four seasons, he will probably head to the minors once given the all-clear and figures to remain a fringe roster player.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Out 8-12 weeks
Rotowire
The Jets placed Heinola (fractured ankle) on injured reserve Friday.
The 22-year-old defenseman suffered a serious injury in Thursday's preseason game versus the Senators and is expected to miss 8-12 weeks. Heinola played in only 10 NHL games with the Jets last season, picking up one assist.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Injury considered serious
Rotowire
Heinola's left leg injury suffered in Thursday's game versus the Senators is considered a longer-term injury, John Lu of TSN reports.
The Jets will know more following an evaluation Friday, but Heinola's chances of playing Opening Night versus the Flames on Wednesday are essentially gone. The 22-year-old defenseman could be a candidate for injured reserve depending on what his evaluation Friday returns.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Exits with lower-body injury
Rotowire
Heinola sustained a lower-body injury in Thursday's preseason game versus the Senators, John Lu of TSN reports.
Heinola went awkwardly into the boards on a hit and ultimately needed help to get to the locker room with a visible limp. With injuries piling up on the Jets' blue line, Heinola was pushing for a roster spot out of camp, but this injury may jeopardize that. His status should be updated prior to Opening Night on Wednesday versus the Flames.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Sent to AHL
Rotowire
Heinola was assigned to AHL Manitoba on Tuesday.
In a corresponding move, Winnipeg activated Logan Stanley (lower body) from injured reserve. Heinola has one assist, five shots on goal, seven blocks and seven hits in 10 games with the Jets this season.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Up with Jets
Rotowire
Heinola was called up by Winnipeg from AHL Manitoba on Monday.
Heinola has a goal and 11 points in 14 contests with Manitoba this season. During his time with the Jets in 2022-23, he's contributed an assist in eight games while averaging 14:08 of ice time.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Sent to AHL Manitoba
Rotowire
Heinola (illness) was reassigned to AHL Manitoba on Friday.
Heinola has been ill all week and has sat out the last four games. He has one assist in eight games this season at the NHL level, while picking up 10 assists in 13 AHL contests. The 21-year-old needs lots of playing time and should get that in the AHL.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Remains sidelined versus Sabres
Rotowire
Heinola (illness) will not be ready to face Buffalo on Thursday, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports.
At this point, it seems doubtful that Heinola will be ready for the second game of the Jets' back-to-back versus the Penguins on Friday either, though he hasn't been officially ruled out. Even once cleared to play, Heinola may not be able to break into the lineup and could find himself watching from the press box as a healthy scratch.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Unavailable Tuesday
Rotowire
Heinola will sit out Tuesday's game against Detroit with an illness, Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet reports.
Heinola, who was initially expected to play, will be a late scratch for the contest. He has one assist, four shots on goal, seven blocks and five hits in eight outings with the Jets this season. Dylan Samberg will play instead.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Skates on third pairing
Rotowire
Heinola earned a plus-1 rating during a 5-1 victory over the visiting Senators on Tuesday.
Heinola, who dressed for the first time since Nov. 23, received a season-high 15:39 of ice time, mostly paired with Dylan Samberg. The 2019 first-round draft pick has competed in three games with the Jets this season, but he still seeks his first shot on goal. Heinola replaced Kyle Capobianco, who was scratched, in Tuesday's lineup.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Healthy but not playing
Rotowire
Heinola (illness) is expected to be a healthy scratch Sunday, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press reports.
Heinola missed Saturday's game against the Canucks due to an illness and now he'll watch from the press box as a healthy scratch. If the Jets don't plan on using him at the NHL level any time soon, the 21-year-old blueliner could head back to AHL Manitoba.
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Jets' Ville Heinola: Sidelined with illness
Rotowire
Heinola (illness) won't play Saturday versus Vancouver, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press reports.
Although Heinola will miss Saturday's contest, he could be available for Sunday's matchup with Seattle. The 21-year-old defender has gone scoreless through two NHL appearances this year.
