In the ups and downs of the hockey world, Adam Proteau discusses Oliver Kylington's return to action, the Senators' latest skid, the Penguins' latest injury and the Jets' latest surge.

Welcome back to Plus Minus, an ongoing THN.com feature in which we look at the ups and downs of the hockey world. Let’s get to it:

PLUS: Flames’ Kylington returns to action after approximately 20 months on the sideline.

Calgary defenseman Oliver Kylington skated for the American League’s Calgary Wranglers for his first competitive action since May 2022. The 26-year-old Swede has been dealing with his mental health, and it’s great to see him back on the ice.

Kylington’s recovery on and off the ice has to take priority over the Flames organization’s best interests, but it seems like he’s ready to re-embrace the pressures that come with being a well-paid athlete. Here’s hoping we see him back at the NHL level soon.

MINUS: The Ottawa Senators, 0-for-5 on disastrous road trip

The Senators fell to the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 Thursday, recording their fifth straight loss and dropping their record to 14-23-0.

This is not the type of showing from Sens players who, in essence, are trying out for next season already.

Indeed, since Nov. 19, Ottawa has gone 6-16-0. That’s about as dismal as it gets, and it should trigger significant change in the organization. GM Steve Staios has his work cut out for him, and considering that the Atlantic Division will be highly competitive in the years immediately ahead, the Senators need a major infusion of talent and determination. This current group of players may have the talent, but clearly, their determination is another story entirely.

PLUS: Look out for the Jets, the NHL’s hottest team

Winnipeg has been the NHL’s best team of late, carving out a 9-0-1 record in their last 10 games to stay among the elite of the Central Division and the league. They've exceeded expectations, although it won't matter unless they convert this success into playoff success. That said, this is a smart, defensively-elite group that hasn’t allowed opponents to score more than three goals in 31 straight games. That’s astonishing.

Winnipeg is getting great balance from their lineup, and All-Star Game representative Connor Hellebuyck is giving them all the goaltending they need to win games. We still like the Dallas Stars to make it out of the Central in the post-season, but the Jets have earned respect with their consistently great efforts.

MINUS: Loss of Reilly Smith exposes Penguins’ lack of depth

The Pittsburgh Penguins lost key veteran Reilly Smith after he was injured in their game against Vancouver. The 32-year-old winger is projected to be out of the lineup for a “longer term,” and his absence is going to make clear just how thin their depth is up front.

Smith hasn’t had a great season, posting 12 assists and 20 points in 40 games. The Penguins need all hands on deck to try and stay out of the Metropolitan Division basement, and this injury shows how top-heavy the team truly is. Of their bottom six forwards going by ice time per game, only two players – Lars Eller and Drew O'Connor – have more than seven points this season. And the domino effect of losing Smith is going to mean someone gets more minutes when their play hasn’t dictated that they should get additional time. The bottom line for the Pens is their subpar offense needs either internal improvement or improvement via a trade. The status quo is not a good option.