Vilardi’s Injury: Impact on Jets as Playoffs Approach

WINNIPEG — Gabriel Vilardi was on the verge of completing his first season without injuries.

After battling chronic back problems for three years post-draft, his debut season in Winnipeg was cut short to 47 games. This was due to an MCL sprain at the season`s start, followed by an enlarged spleen later in the year.

Vilardi had expressed his determination from training camp to participate in a full 82-game season.

However, unexpectedly, he is now sidelined week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

“This is exactly what we discussed and what upset him last night upon learning the news,” coach Scott Arniel mentioned to reporters on Monday morning. “He put in tremendous effort during his summer training, focusing on specific aspects to ensure he could play all 82 games this season.”

Arniel remained vague about the injury details, only clarifying it wasn`t related to Vilardi`s brief exit from Sunday`s game against Buffalo after a puck hit his ear.

“You can find it yourselves, but it was a rather unusual situation,” Arniel stated.

Vilardi did experience an awkward fall in his last shift against Buffalo.

A week-to-week absence is concerning, especially with the Jets nearing the final three weeks of the regular season.

Regardless of the duration of his absence, losing the 25-year-old is a significant setback for the Jets.

Vilardi has already achieved career highs with 27 goals and 61 points in 71 games, projecting to 31 goals and 70 points over an 82-game season. The six-foot-three right winger is among the NHL`s premier net-front scorers, ranking in the 99th percentile for high-danger goals (22), and is tied for ninth in power-play goals (12).

However, the Jets will miss more than just his scoring.

Impact on Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor

The career-best performances of Scheifele and Connor are intertwined with Vilardi`s presence.

He has been crucial to the top line`s effectiveness.

Vilardi was the missing component for the established duo, providing a large-bodied winger adept at puck protection, extending plays along the boards, and maintaining offensive zone pressure through cycle plays.

“He embodies the modern power forward,” an NHL assistant coach commented. “A perfect complement to those two. He knows how to find open ice and utilizes his size to create space in challenging areas. His hockey IQ allows him to synchronize with intelligent players.”

5-on-5 On-Ice Impact

Vilardi’s ability to control the puck in tight spaces and his skillful stickhandling have been vital in many of Scheifele and Connor’s goals.

“That`s likely why I`m considering Alex Iafallo, who is a more straightforward player,” Arniel said regarding Vilardi’s replacement.

Iafallo brings to the top line a strong forechecking ability, capable of winning individual battles and driving to the net. Iafallo is in the 86th percentile for five-on-five high-danger shot attempts per 60 minutes (4.27). He also played alongside Scheifele and Connor early last season before Vilardi joined that line.

However, there is a noticeable decrease in playmaking ability from Vilardi to the 31-year-old Iafallo. Additionally, Iafallo playing on his off-side complicates seam passes after winning puck battles.

Ideally, Winnipeg would prefer a right-shot, playmaking winger to elevate within the lineup. However, their only other right-shot winger is Mason Appleton, who has only contributed four points in the past two months.

While Nino Niederreiter could be considered, the 32-year-old is not as effective as Vilardi or Iafallo along the boards, nor is he particularly known for his passing skills.

Power Play Implications

Vilardi`s playmaking and scoring prowess near the net have been instrumental in making the Jets` power play a formidable challenge, forcing defenses to account for threats beyond just Scheifele and Connor.

Recently, opposing teams have begun to focus more on Vilardi. In the Jets` initial 51 games, their power play success rate was 33 percent (first overall), with Vilardi scoring 11 of his 12 power-play goals during this period. Over the subsequent 20 games, the power play efficiency has declined to 21.8 percent (19th), coinciding with less operational space for Vilardi.

Here’s an examination of his decreased shot volume during this period.

Gabriel Vilardi Power Play Production per 60

Iafallo is expected to take Vilardi`s place on the top power-play unit, but the long-term effects remain uncertain.