D Haydn Fleury exits hospital, rejoins Jets after leaving on stretcher

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury has been released from the hospital and rejoined the team on Wednesday, one day after being taken off the ice on a stretcher.

“He’s got a broken nose, a bruised back,” Jets head coach Scott Arniel said. “Obviously, it’s not at first what we thought. It’s not as serious as when we’re seeing him go off on a stretcher. He was banged up pretty good, he felt it. But it’s great to see him here today and see him around the room.”

Fleury, 29, had a collision with Vegas Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar before the goal line and slid back-first hard into the boards during the first period on Tuesday. He rolled over on his side on the ice and there was a pool of blood where his face was positioned.

Fleury was surrounded by teammates as he was treated by EMS and was eventually taken off on a stretcher. Kolesar, a native of nearby Brandon, Manitoba, gave Fleury a pat as he went by the bench. No penalty was called on the play.

Fleury has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Tuesday, and forward Danil Zhilkin was recalled from Manitoba of the American Hockey League.

Arniel told reporters that the team still is determining whether Fleury sustained a concussion.

“You’ve got to kind of wait and see on it,” Arniel said. “You bang your head that hard … I’m not saying it’s a concussion yet, but he still has to go through the next few days here and see how he feels. He may wake up three days from now and feel great (or) he may wake up three days from now and have some issues.”

Fleury has yet to record a point in 17 games this season for the Jets, who have dropped 10 in a row (0-6-4).

–Field Level Media