Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Elias Salomonsson gets loaned to the Manitoba Moose, and the Winnipeg Jets admit the Olympic break makes sitting feel pointless.
Winnipeg is on its Olympic break, and the club won’t skate again until Feb. 17.
So the Jets pushed Salomonsson and Isaak Phillips back to the AHL for game action.
This is the cleanest kind of roster move, development first.
Salomonsson is 21, drafted in 2022, Round 2, by the Winnipeg Jets.
He’s at 1-7-8 in 25 AHL games, and those reps matter for a young blue-liner finding pro pace.
Phillips is 24, drafted in 2020, Round 5, by the Chicago Blackhawks.
He’s put up 3-12-15 in 35 AHL games, and he already got a couple NHL looks this season.
Here’s the post that kicked the whole thing into the open, and it lines up with what the roster pages showed Thursday.
Head coach Scott Arniel basically said it out loud, he didn’t want those two kids sitting for three weeks.
That’s the part fans actually like hearing.
Elias Salomonsson gives the Winnipeg Jets options
Jets fans are tired of “development” meaning press box popcorn, so this one feels like common sense.
Manitoba is in Texas this weekend with games Friday and Saturday.
After that, the Moose come home for Calgary on Feb. 14 and Feb. 16.
They’re also set for Iowa on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22.
If Winnipeg’s blue line stays healthy, Salomonsson can run bigger minutes and keep his timing sharp.
If injuries hit, the Jets can recall either guy without feeling like they’re throwing a cold player into NHL chaos.
It’s not flashy, but it’s smart, and it sets up Feb. 17 to feel like a real reset.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 5|135 ANSWERS Winnipeg Jets send two players down to the AHL, and it's telling Should the Winnipeg Jets call up both these players after the Olympic break? | ||
| Yes | 103 | 76.3 % |
| No | 32 | 23.7 % |
| List of polls | ||