The Boston Bruins are reeling after a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. However, on Wednesday, there was encouraging news about the return of one of the team’s top two defensemen.

While speaking with reporters following practice, Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm shared that he does not believe he will return to the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 30. View the original article to see embedded media.

Sure, the Boston Bruins were without three of their top defensemen – Charlie McAvoy (wrist), Hampus Lindholm (knee) and Brandon Carlo (ill) – but Boston’s overall defense was terrible during a 7-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Bruins host the Jets on Thursday. Lindholm, who is currently on Long Term Injured Reserve has been out since suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 12 against the Blues. McAvoy had been out since Jan. 11 with an undisclosed injury.

The Boston Bruins had practice on Jan. 27, and it was a notable one for the Original Six club. Both Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy practiced in regular jerseys with the Original Six club for the first time since being injured.

With the trade speculation intensifying after the blockbuster Mikko Rantanen deal, here are some thoughts on some possible Bruin trade chips.

The Boston Bruins (25-21-6) have four players on the injury report for their matchup with the Winnipeg Jets (35-14-3) at TD Garden on Thursday, January 30 at 7:00 PM ET.Jets vs. Bruins game

First time Bruins have surrendered multiple hat tricks in same game since Eric Daze and Steve Sullivan each had hat trick for Blackhawks on Mar. 9, 2003.

Trying to bounce back from yet another brutal loss, the Bruins could be getting their best all-around defenseman back for Thursday's game against the Jets.

While a clash of the NHL's top two teams looms this weekend, the Winnipeg Jets have business to take care of first as they continue a three-game road trip in the East against the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

Boston was thumped in Buffalo on Tuesday, and the return of McAvoy – out since Jan. 11 with a wrist injury – will certainly help.