Jets defenseman Tyler Myers out 6-8 weeks after lower-body surgery

The injury door that opened for some promising Winnipeg Jets rookie defensemen will stay open for the rest of the season.

Jets coach Paul Maurice confirmed on Tuesday that defenseman Tyler Myers will miss most of the regular season after undergoing surgery for a lower-body injury on Monday. The Jets did not specify further on the nature of the injury, but Maurice did say it’s not related to the two lower-body surgeries he underwent last season.

Myers suffered the injury against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 11 and has missed the last 39 games. Maurice said the Jets delayed the surgery as long as they could hoping he would improve, but they had to make a decision this week.

“He had an injury that there’s a long rehab on,” Maurice said. “For 90 percent of the people (who sustain it) it’s just long, and they eventually get past that (pain) threshold, and he never got past that threshold.”

But Maurice said that the Jets hope to get Myers back before the end of the season.

As the Jets coach noted, Myers’ injury has sent ripple effect throughout the Jets’ blue line. Dustin Byfuglien is playing almost two more shifts and minutes more per game than last season, which Maurice says has hurt his game. Jacob Trouba’s ice time is up, as well, though he’s fared better.

The injury let the Jets give top prospect Josh Morrissey a long look, however. In 55 games, Morrissey has 13 assists and looks like a natural fit.

The Jets activated Drew Stafford off injured reserve to fill out their roster.