Jets’ Namestnikov & Niederreiter to Return to Lineup After Long Injury Absences

Winnipeg Jets forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Nino Niederreiter will return to the lineup tonight after long injury absences, the team has confirmed.

Namestnikov has missed the team’s past 18 games with a lower-body injury he suffered versus the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 27 when he got into an awkward leg-on-leg collision with teammate Adam Lowry. The 33 year old has struggled offensively this season, with just seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 56 games.

Niederreiter has missed the team’s past 20 games since re-aggravating an undisclosed injury while representing Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 31 year old has eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 55 games this season.

Namestnikov will centre the fourth line tonight versus the Seattle Kraken. Niederreiter will skate on Namestnikov’s left and Brad Lambert will skate on Namestnikov’s right.

The Jets’ bottom six will be without Morgan Barron as he is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, head coach Scott Arniel also revealed Monday.

The Jets are three points out of the second Western Conference wild-card spot and the matchup versus the Kraken has massive playoff implications for both sides.