Ice Chips: Oilers expect Smith to be ready after All-Star Break

Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.

Edmonton Oilers

Head coach Dave Tippett said goaltender Mike Smith should be ready to return from his thumb injury after the All-Star Break, tweets Tony Brar of Oilers TV.

Tippett says Mike Smith should be ready to return after the All-Star break. #Oilers

Smith has not played since Jan. 5 and was originally expected to miss about two weeks with the injury.

The 39-year-old netminder owns a goals-against average of 3.76 and a save percentage of .898 in six games so far this season.

Meanwhile, Tippett also said that defenceman Tyson Barrie will return Wednesday from upper and lower-body injuries sustained in a game against the Florida Panthers earlier this month. 

• Barrie returns • McLeod in top six • Koskinen starts Oilers lineup in Washington: Kane - McDavid - Yamamoto McLeod - Draisaitl - Puljujarvi Hyman - Nugent-Hopkins - Ryan Foegele - Shore - Kassian Nurse - Bouchard Keith - Ceci Lagesson - Barrie Koskinen#Oilers

Winnipeg Jets

Taxi squads across the NHL will come to an end after All-Star Weekend and the Jets appear to be getting some work done early.

The team assigned seven players to the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday as goaltender Mikhail Berdin, defencemen Declan Chisholm, Leon Gawanke, Ville Heinola Johnathan Kovacevic and forwards Mikey Eyssimont and Kristian Reichel are all headed to the AHL.

TRANSACTIONS: The #NHLJets have reassigned the following players to the Manitoba Moose (AHL): G - Mikhail Berdin D - Declan Chisholm D - Leon Gawanke D - Ville Heinola D - Johnathan Kovacevic F - Mikey Eyssimont F - Kristian Reichel

Minnesota Wild

Head coach Dean Evason told reporters Tuesday that defenceman Matt Dumba and