The Winnipeg Jets are slowly working their way back to health.
Gabriel Vilardi may be back in the Winnipeg Jets' lineup sooner rather than later, as he continues to recover from a right MCL sprain.
On Monday morning, Vilardi took part in his first full practice with the team, before the Jets departed for their flight south to Florida.
Opening a three-game road trip through Tampa Bay, Florida and Nashville on Wednesday, the injured Vilardi may be a possibility as the trek wears on.
"There is a good chance that he might," interim head coach Scott Arniel said when asked about the possibility of Vilardi suiting up in the later stages of the road trip.
Finishing in Nashville on Sunday, the Jets will return home for another big test against the Central Division's Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
"We are all awaiting his return," league goal scoring co-leader Kyle Connor said. "We kind of got a little tease of what it could be in the first couple games of the year and obviously in pre-season. So I'm excited as anybody to get him back and see what he can do, and what he can grow into as a part of this team."
Considering the first-year Jet has only managed two games and 5:55 of the first period of his third game of the season before suffering his injury, the oft-injured forward will likely be champing at the bit to get back into game action.
But according to Arniel, the club will remain cautious in its approach to his return to the fold, as the initial four-to-six week timeframe hits five weeks.
"The thing is, that was his first real skate," Arniel added. "I know he's been out on the ice doing some stuff, shooting, conditioning. But that was his first real run with all the guys and line rushes, and skating in the situation.
"He'll do a little bit more of that as this week goes on, and then we'll see how he is and just take it day-to-day. First, he has to feel comfortable with his knee, and the second thing is his conditioning, and it's a big one. We don't want to put him out there when he's not ready to go, or close to one hundred percent."