Troubling Diagnosis for Gabe Vilardi; Jets Forward Out Indefinitely

On the ice, it's been a successful first season in Winnipeg for Jets forward Gabe Vilardi. But on the whole, it's been an extremely frustrating one, as he's faced a number of injury setbacks, and now comes word that he'll be out indefinitely with "an enlarged spleen."

#NHLJets coach Rick Bowness says Gabe Vilardi has been diagnosed with an enlarged spleen. This is something that recently was discovered. He won’t travel with the team for the five-game trip. No timeline on a return. He’s getting treatment.
— Mike McIntyre (@mikemcintyrewpg) March 15, 2024

The big return from the Los Angeles Kings in the offseason Pierre-Luc Dubois trade, this is Vilardi's third injury of the campaign. His first came just three games in, an MCL sprain after taking a hit against his old team. That cost him 16 games. He came back in late November and had a nice run with 19 points in 23 games, went down again for a couple of games in January and returned with another nice stretch before going out of the lineup yet again at the end of February.

Then comes this latest issue, the enlarged spleen, which was only discovered during an ongoing medical evaluation for the upper-body injury that's kept him out of the last seven games.

The 24-year-old has played just 38 of the team's 65 games this season and has recorded 16 goals and 30 points along with an impressive +12 rating.

It was only last week that Jets head coach Rick Bowness expressed his utter frustration with Vilardi's repeated trips to injured reserve this season.

#NHLJets head coach Rick Bowness expressed a bit of frustration with Gabe Vilardi's lack of health this season.

"Every time he seems to get going he gets another injury. It sets him back a little bit. But we’ve seen how important he is to our power play..."

Full quote below: pic.twitter.com/NcIRU1orZg
— Carter Brooks (@CBrooksie84) March 8, 2024