Winnipeg Jets announce that they'll be missing a key piece against the Leafs

The Jets currently own a 2-2-0 record, identical to the one the Leafs held before their victory over the Stars on Wednesday. The Leafs and Jets had a couple of very heated tilts last season, including a game in which Jets defenseman Neal Pionk took a run at defenseman Rasmus Sandin, knocking him out of the lineup for a few weeks due to a knee injury. In response, Jason Spezza took a run at a falling Pionk, clipping him high and earning a 6-game suspension for this troubles.

The Leafs have already announced that Wayne Simmonds will make his season debut against the Jets. However, while the Leafs are adding to their lineup, the Jets will be subtracting a major foundational piece after the team announced on Friday that they have placed winger Nikolaj Ehlers on IR, ruling him out for Saturday's matchup with the Buds.

After notching 28 goals and 55 points in 62 games for the Jets last season, Ehlers had been off to a solid start this year, having already accumulated 3 assists in his first two games. He is believed to be dealing with a hand injury suffered on Monday in a 4-1 loss to Dallas.

This is a massive opportunity for the Leafs to kick off their road trip with a huge win in enemy territory and build some momentum, but also to exact some revenge on the Jets for last year's transgressions.