Defenseman Elias Salomonsson is on the road back to Winnipeg, but his return to the Jets won’t happen all at once.
The club announced it has loaned Salomonsson to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose after he was medically cleared to return. The move should give the 22-year-old Swede a chance to shake off the rust before he’s asked to contribute again at the NHL level.
If he gets into the lineup tonight against the Texas Stars, it would be Salomonsson’s first game action in months. He had shoulder surgery in April and has been working his way back ever since.
The assignment to Manitoba appears likely to function as a conditioning stint, and if that goes smoothly, Salomonsson should be back with the Jets shortly after. Winnipeg has reason to want him ready.
In his rookie NHL season last year, he posted one goal and five points in 32 games, finished with a minus-6 rating, and averaged nearly 18 minutes of ice time per night. His underlying numbers were steady as well, with a 51.8% CorsiFor and 91.2% on-ice SV% at even strength.
There’s also some offensive upside here if his AHL track record holds. In his first season with the Moose, Salomonsson put up five goals and 27 points in 53 games while finishing minus-7.
Still, Winnipeg’s roster picture makes the timing complicated. The Jets are down to only 12 healthy forwards after Vladislav Namestnikov was injured in practice.
They’re also missing top defenseman Josh Morrissey for the next few weeks, even though seven other defensemen are already on the roster. And to add another layer, Connor Hellebuyck is expected back from suspension, unless the Jets can suspend him with pay.
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