Music: {allcanada} Jets defenseman Trouba to return vs. Blue Jackets

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

{allcanada} Jets defenseman Trouba to return vs. Blue Jackets

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba was activated from injured reserve Wednesday and will be in the lineup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Trouba has missed the past 16 games because of an upper-body injury. The 20-year-old has four goals, 12 points and a plus-3 rating while averaging 23:33 of ice time in 31 games. As a rookie last season Trouba, the ninth pick of the 2012 NHL Draft, had 10 goals and 29 points in 65 games.

Coach Paul Maurice said he was hoping to see Trouba keep his first game since Dec. 13 simple and easy.

"Just move the puck," he said. "Get it and move it. Jump into the holes you see. The speed of the game is the thing you can't replicate in practice and that's what they miss. The puck is going to drop and that guy is going to be on him faster than he thinks. His ability to take it and move it right away will buy him time to get him in the rhythm of the game."

At the Jets' morning skate Wednesday, Trouba was paired with veteran Jay Harrison, who shifted to the left side.

Maurice said he believed a Trouba-Harrison pairing would be good for Trouba.

"Jay's a communicator on the ice, he's a talker," Maurice said. "Those guys are always easy to fit in with early. I think Jay's gotten better on the right side as he's gone along. … He'll be real comfortable on the left with Jake."

To clear a roster spot, the Jets placed forward Mathieu Perreault on injured reserve.