Dr. Harjas Grewal breaks silence on worrying Dylan DeMelo situation

Dr. Harjas Grewal weighed in this morning on Dylan DeMelo, and his early read on the Jets defenseman points to a lengthy absence.

DeMelo played just 2:33 in Thursday night's 8-3 win in Dallas, a very short night for a veteran blueliner. That limited ice time is what has fans in Winnipeg asking questions.

Grewal's take on the situation was blunt, saying that he believes it's likely a high ankle sprain or an MCL injury that could keep DeMelo out for 4-6 weeks.

-

Grewal also admitted he couldn't see the play clearly, so this is a read based on pattern recognition, not a diagnosis. Nothing from the Jets has confirmed an injury, and DeMelo has no injury listed according to the latest report.

We already noted the concern over DeMelo's health this morning, and the wait for an official word is the story now.

If the 4-6 week window turns out to be accurate, it would be a real hit to Winnipeg's blue line.

What a long DeMelo absence would mean for the Jets

The 33-year-old has been a regular this season, with 20 games played, 8 points and a +2 rating. He is the kind of veteran who eats up minutes, so losing him would force the coaching staff to reshuffle its pairs.

Over his NHL career, DeMelo has played 738 regular-season games, and he has been a steady presence everywhere he has landed. Depth like that is hard to replace on short notice.

That is the part that should worry Winnipeg most. A top-four defenseman out for a month or more means more minutes for the rest of the group, and a call-up from the minors would be a natural consequence.

A short outing in a blowout win does not prove an injury by itself. Coaches sometimes shorten a night when a game is decided. But paired with a doctor's read, it is hard to ignore, and the Jets will be asked about it at the next opportunity.

Until the team speaks, this stays a read and not a fact. The next update from Winnipeg will tell us whether DeMelo is truly facing weeks on the shelf.

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.

Also read on Markerzone.com:
The Leafs brass has been reminded that a Cup-winning coach is still on the market