Hurricanes Reactivate Jeff Skinner from Injured Reserve

As has been wildy anticipated, today the Carolina Hurricanes have officially activated Jeff Skinner from injured reserve. The 2010-11 Calder Trophy winner has been sidelined for 16 games after suffering a concussion in a game against the Edmonton Oilers on December 7th. He has been skating with the team since early January and was recently cleared for contact. He is now eligible to play tonight against the Washington Capitals. We'll have more details about tonight's game against the Capitals in the game preview.

The full press release from the team follows.

Hurricanes Activate Forward Jeff Skinner

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has activated forward Jeff Skinner from injured reserve. Skinner, who has missed Carolina’s last 16 games with a concussion, is eligible to play in tonight’s game against the Capitals in Washington.

Skinner, 19, currently ranks second among Hurricanes skaters in goals (12) and third in points (24). Prior to suffering a concussion against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 7, the Markham, Ont., native had not missed a game in his NHL career. Carolina’s first-round draft pick (7th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Skinner has totaled 43 goals and 44 assists (87 points) in 112 career NHL games with the Hurricanes. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year after leading all rookies in points (63) during his first NHL season in 2010-11.