Slater has joined Michigan State's staff as a volunteer coach.

EDGE Analysis

Slater, who last played for the Jets in 2014-15, will finish his playing career having racked up 67 goals and 138 points in 584 NHL contests.

Slater picked up a Gordie Howe hat trick Thursday -- a goal, an assist and a fight -- in a 5-2 victory over Montreal. Well, this was quite an unexpected burst of fantasy production from a guy who's been more or less a black hole offensively over the last few seasons. The two points pushed his total to all of 10 in 75 games this year, but he has surprised by bringing a bigger toughness element this year, as he's now just four minutes shy of his career-high 62 PIM.

Slater contributed an assist in Monday's 4-1 win over Edmonton. The helper is nice and all, though Slater has a minus-4 rating with eight points through 73 games. However, he is an asset for the Jets in the faceoff circle based on the fact that he's won 58.4% of draws this season.

Slater registered two assists and dominated the faceoff circle in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Panthers, winning 15 of 17 draws. The fourth-line center nearly doubled his scoring output with the two-assist night, as he had provided only three points over his previous 43 contests. He's been much more of an asset as a faceoff artist, where his 57.6 winning percentage ranks eighth in the league among those with at least 100 opportunities.

Slater recorded his first goal of the season in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Blues. It was Slater's first point on the season as he tied a season-high by firing off three shots. He has just five points combined now in the past three seasons, and shouldn't be considered for fantasy in almost any format.

Slater (hip) will play in Saturday's exhibition game against the Wild, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports. Slater had hip surgery performed during the offseason and will try to piece together a more complete season in 2014-15 when considering that he was limited to just 27 games last year with a hernia and 26 in 2012-13. Because of his injury-laden past, Slater's value will be curbed coming into the regular season, and rightly so.

Jim Slater has undergone hip labrum surgery. Slater should be fine by the start of training camp. He had a goal and an assist in 27 games in 2013-14.

Jim Slater left Friday's 5-3 win over Calgary with an undisclosed injury. As the Jets have finished the season, Slater will have plenty of time to recover.

Jim Slater suited up in his 500th career game Monday night. He logged 8:53 of ice time and he was credited with one shot block. Slater has two points and 38 hits in 25 appearances this season.

Jim Slater is expected to return to the Jets' lineup in time for Saturday's game against the Hurricanes. He missed Wednesday's game due to a lower-body injury. Slater is not really a fantasy factor.