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Winnipeg Woe: Perreault likely done for regular season, Stafford day-to-day

Avalanche Jets Hockey

Winnipeg Jets’ Mathieu Perreault (85) celebrates his goal against the Colorado Avalanche during second period NHL hockey action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Trevor Hagan)

AP

Looks like Kevin Cheveldayoff might soon be back at the trade table.

Just one week after orchestrating the Evander Kane blockbuster, the Jets GM could be forced to make more moves after Wednesday’s news that forward Mathieu Perreault would likely be done for the remainder of the regular season with a “significant” lower-body injury, while Drew Stafford -- who came over in the Kane deal -- is day-to-day.

The Perreault loss is big. He sits third on the team in goals, with 18, gets time on the first-unit power play and averages 16:38 TOI per game. The 27-year-old also seemed on his way to surpassing his career high in points -- 43, set last year in Anaheim -- and provided center depth for a Jets team that’s not overly strong down the middle, and now boasts Brian Little and 21-year-old Mark Scheifele as its top-two centers.

Stafford, meanwhile, got derailed before ever really getting started.

The longtime Sabre was hurt in just his third game as a Jet, and his loss is significant as well. Between Stafford, Perreault and Kane, the Jets have lost depth and goalscoring ability at forward and will now be forced to return Dustin Byfuglien to the wing, even though the All-Star defenseman has repeatedly expressed his desire to stick on the blueline.

(Byfuglien’s move to forward will coincide with the length of time Stafford is out, per multiple reports.)

In a related move, the Jets have called up Carl Klingberg from AHL St. John’s. The Swedish winger has 10 games of NHL experience under his belt, but has yet to make his season debut.