Jets make moves on defence

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This article was published 03/11/2013 (4344 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Roster moves have been made and lineup changes are likely for the Winnipeg Jets when the Detroit Red Wings visit Monday night at the MTS Centre.

The Jets recalled defenceman Zach Redmond from their AHL affiliate team in St. John’s today and reassigned defenceman Ben Chiarot and Julian Melchiori.

Waiver claim Keaton Ellerby, another defenceman acquired Saturday, said today he’ll be in the lineup against the Red Wings on Monday and there’s a strong chance Redmond would be his partner as the team’s third pairing.

Redmond has missed time with the IceCaps because of a knee injury but returned to action this weekend, playing in a pair of games. He has one goal and one assist.

Last season, Redmond made the Jets out of training camp but was seriously injured when the femoral artery in his right leg was severed during practice in February. That injury kept him out of NHL action the rest of the season, though he did return to play with the IceCaps before their season was over.

Ellerby has yet to play this season, mainly because defenceman Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell have come back to the L.A. Kings and been healthy after serious injuries last season. That situation led the Kings to put the Calgary native, a former first-round pick fo the Florida Panthers, on waivers Friday.

“I’m just super excited to be here,” Ellerby said after this morning’s practice at the MTS Centre. “It was a tough start. They got Michy and Greener back from big injuries last year. Getting those two guys is a big help for them but it was little tough getting into the lineup with myself playing the same style of game as them.

“They’re older guys, been around the league, and were there with the Stanley Cup team. “It was tough not playing but you’ve got to roll with the punches.”

Ellerby has had plenty of practice time.

“Practice gets pretty old sometimes for sure but it’s part of the game,” he said. “I’m a young guy, just take it as it comes and work hard every day. I worked a lot with John Stevens down there… he helped me out a ton. He was a great coach for me and I think he’s helped me develop along the way in my time with L.A. but I’m definitely excited to get a game in tomorrow.”

The Jets, now 5-8-2 after their 5-1 loss to the Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, won’t find their schedule any easier this week. They face the Wings Monday, then go to Chicago for a game there Wednesday.

“Obviously it was a tough game,” defenceman Zach Bogosian said today about the loss to the Hawks. “We have to keep looking forward to what’s ahead of us. Obviously we were aware of turning over pucks, that Chicago would hurt us. They proved they’re a good transition team. I think we can learn from that but we have to make sure we’re ready for tomorrow.

“We can’t dwell on everything. We have to make sure we’re ready.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca