Winnipeg Jets send two players down, and the real reason is pretty clear

Jan 23, 2026 (11:03)

Photo credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

Isaak Phillips gets loaned down, and Danny Zhilkin follows, a Winnipeg Jets depth shuffle that screams "stay ready."

Winnipeg Jets PR announced Thursday that the club loaned Phillips and Zhilkin to the Manitoba Moose in the AHL.

This is the kind of move that usually means the big club wants flexibility, not panic.

It also tells you the Jets like their current mix on the blue line and in the bottom-six.

Phillips is 24, a 2020 fifth-round pick, 141st overall by the Chicago Blackhawks, and he has already shown he can survive NHL pace in short bursts.

In 2025-26 with Manitoba, he has 13 points (3G, 10A) in 33 games, which is real production for a depth defender trying to earn the next recall.

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Zhilkin is 22, a 2022 third-round pick, 77th overall by Winnipeg, and his game is finally starting to look pro-ready on a nightly basis.

He has 14 points (7G, 7A) in 30 AHL games, and the Jets literally just leaned on him earlier this month when they recalled him.

Jets fans are tired of "depth talk," but this is exactly how you avoid a season going sideways when one injury hits.

Loaning both players down keeps them playing big minutes instead of sitting upstairs as extras.

For Phillips, that likely means tough matchups, second-unit power play reps, and more puck touches.

For Zhilkin, it means staying in rhythm, winning draws, and being the next phone call if the Jets need a jolt.

Nothing flashy here, just smart roster management with the next game and the next recall in mind.

Previously on HockeyLatest

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JANVIER 23\|185 ANSWERS Winnipeg Jets send two players down, and the real reason is pretty clear Should the Winnipeg Jets keep Danny Zhilkin on the NHL roster?
Yes	118	63.8 %
No	67	36.2 %
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