Ehlers one step closer to a return

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -Nikolaj Ehlers is doing all he can to get back in the Winnipeg Jets line-up.
Even if that could mean taking the team's medical staff out for dinner to convince them to give him the green light.
"I'm trying to bribe them," Ehlers said with a laugh. "It's probably going to take a little more than a couple dinners."

The Danish forward hasn't played since sustaining an upper-body injury on Jan. 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins - a span of 19 games.
He suffered the injury in a first period collision with Sidney Crosby and despite his best efforts, he couldn't return to the game.
"I came onto the bench and felt something was wrong. I got into the trainers' room and took a look at it," said Ehlers. "I think with the adrenaline already going a little bit, you feel fine and you try to go back out there. That did not work out."

The 23-year-old has 15 goals and 27 points in 40 games this season, but it will be at least one more game before his offensive touch and speed will return to the Jets line-up.
"He's not going in tomorrow. We've got him out of the gold jersey so he's back to full contact. We'll see how he reacts to today's work," said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. "We're going to skate as a group in Arizona on our off day. That will be two full practices and we'll go from there."
The hardest part for Ehlers - who has already missed more games with this injury than he had in his previous three seasons combined - has been sitting on the sidelines while his teammates go through the adversity they're going through now.
"Obviously you're still part of the team but you feel like you're letting down the guys," said Ehlers. "You want to help. You want to help this team get back and we need to bounce back and find our game again. You want to help do that. Not playing and just watching… it sucked."