The Hockey News Carter Brooks Postgame Report On Tuesday, the Winnipeg Jets announced that the team had activated forward Rasmus Kupari from its injured reserve, and in turn sent him on assignment to the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose on a conditioning stint. Kupari originally hurt himself on November 14, and has been out of the lineup ever since, following the injury suffered at the hands of the New Jersey Devils. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets/injury-report/winnipegs-rasmus-kupari-to-miss-4-6-weeks-with-shoulder-injury] The first-year Jet stumbled into the side boards near his defensive zone blueline with roughly eight minutes to play in the first period of that mid-November contest. He staggered to the Jets' bench holding his shoulder, and had not been seen publicly since. The 2018 first round pick's initial prognosis was a four-to-six week timeline, putting him on schedule to return near the end of December. That clearly did not happen, as Kupari has slowly returned to the fold in a yellow, non-contact sweater at Jets skates through December. According to head coach Rick Bowness, Kupari - as well as defenceman Ville Heinola - were both nearing returns from their respective injuries. Bowness indicated the pair were awaiting medical clearance before being assigned to the minors for conditioning. On Tuesday afternoon that news came, and Kupari will head down to Manitoba where he will look to skate in game action for the first time in nearly two months. The Moose are on the road for a game against the Belleville Senators on Wednesday. Whether or not he draws into the lineup that quickly will be up to Moose head coach Mark Morrison. The 23-year-old Kupari has one assist in 15 games with the Jets and somehow still ranks within the top-five players league-wide in terms of fastest speed reached in game action this year (23.95 MPH). He has nine goals and 30 points in 145 total NHL games between the Jets and Los Angeles Kings. In 85 AHL games, Kupari has 24 goals and 48 points.
