Jets’ Arrivals and Departures: Postma and Clitsome

 

Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Winnipeg Jets defencemen Paul Postma and Grant Clitsome are headed in very different directions. Postma is finally skating again, three months after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf. Unfortunately for Clitsome, he won’t be on the ice anytime soon, after undergoing season-ending back surgery on Thursday.

According to NHL.com, Postma should be cleared for contact in about four days, but won’t be ready to play for another few days after that. The 24-year-old has played just eight games this season, has zero points, seven hits and 10 blocked shots. That said, at 6’3″, 195 pounds, Postma will add some depth to the Winnipeg blue line.

The Jets (then Thrashers) selected Postma in the seventh-round, 205th overall back in the 2007 entry draft. He suited up in 46 games, scoring four goals and five assists for nine points and a minus-five rating.

As for Clitsome, he’s been out since December 17th versus the Buffalo Sabres and was placed on injured reserve on December 26th. In 32 games this season, the 28-year-old has two goals  and 10 assists for 12 points and a minus-five rating. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Clitsome’s surgery was performed Thursday by renowned back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins Sr. at the Marina Spine Center in Marina del Rey, California.

 

 

Clitsome was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the ninth-round, 271st overall in the 2004 entry draft. He was claimed off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the middle of the 2011-12 season. And, this past offseason he signed a three-year, $6.2 million deal with the Jets.

Meanwhile, since Paul Maurice took over for Claude Noel, Winnipeg is 2-0 having beaten the Coyotes 5-1 and the Flames 5-2. The Jets will play host to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET.