Central Notes: Niederreiter, Goligoski, Stramel

TSN’s John Lu is reporting that Winnipeg Jets forward Nino Niederreiter will join the team on their upcoming road trip to Nashville, Dallas, and Denver but there is no decision yet on whether or not the 31-year-old will skate with the team.

Niederreiter hasn’t played since April 1st against the Los Angeles Kings and reportedly suffered a laceration to the back of his left leg after Kings forward Adrian Kempe fell to the ice and had his blade come up on Niederreiter. The Jets were originally hoping to lose the forward for just a week, but it appears it could be longer depending on how things heal up. Niederreiter has 18 goals and 15 assists this season in 75 games but was ice-cold before the injury with no points in his last 13 games.

In other Central Division notes:

• Joe Smith and Michael Russo of The Athletic spoke with Minnesota Wild defenseman Alex Goligoski about possible plans after this season as the 38-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. It has been a struggle this season for the former Stanley Cup champion as Goligoski was a healthy scratch for almost two straight months. Russo and Smith did ask Goligoski if he’s considering retirement, but the native of Grand Rapids, Minnesota said he hadn’t thought about it and would decide his future after the season. Goligoski was once a solid offensive contributor from the back end but has struggled the last two seasons and has just nine assists this year in 32 games.
• Michael Russo of The Athletic has confirmed that Minnesota Wild prospect Charlie Stramel will indeed be transferring from Wisconsin to Michigan State next season after entering the transfer portal last week. The Wild selected Stamel with the 21st pick in last June’s NHL entry draft, and he will now be leaving the University of Wisconsin after two seasons with the team. The 19-year-old sophomore struggled this season with Wisconsin scoring just three goals and adding five assists in 35 games.