Salomonsson ready to take on the NHL

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This article was published 17/06/2024 (474 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He may be more than 6,000 kilometres away and speaking a language he’s still learning, but there’s no mistaking the clarity in Elias Salomonsson’s voice or the confidence in his message.

The 19-year-old right-shot defenceman is ready to take Winnipeg by storm and jump on his first chance to join the Jets as early as this fall.

“I’m going to training camp with the mindset to make the team,” Salomonsson told the Free Press from Sweden.

Opportunity is knocking, and Salomonsson — fresh off winning a championship with his hometown team earlier this spring — is hoping to make the most of it.

“I’m really excited. I just have to try to make them have to make a decision,” he said.

As of today, the Jets have four defenceman signed to contracts for next season in Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Dylan Samberg and Nate Schmidt.

Dylan DeMelo, Brenden Dillon, Colin Miller and Kyle Capobianco are all pending unrestricted free agents as of July 1, while Logan Stanley and Ville Heinola are restricted free agents.

While much could change between now and the start of the 2024-25 campaign in October, it’s not hard to envision a scenario in which Salomonsson is given a lengthy look to start his North American pro hockey career with the big club.

The 55th-overall pick in the 2022 draft is coming off a dynamic year in which he had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 31 regular-season games with Skelleftea AIK, then really stepped up in the playoffs with six points (one goal, five assists) in 16 games while playing an important shutdown role en route to a league title.

“We got some injuries to our top guys, so I had more responsibility and played more minutes,” said Salomonsson. “I think I handled it really well. I think I took my game to another level in the playoffs. So I’m really happy about my game.”

Salomonsson, a smooth-skating puck-moving pivot, also added a bit of snarl to his style, earning a trio of suspensions for questionable hits — a two and four-game ban in the Swedish men’s league, and a one-game timeout in the World Juniors.

“I think I always had a physical game in me. I think this year I focused a little bit more on it,” said Salomonsson, who began to chuckle. “And I went over the line a couple times.”

The Jets don’t mind that development one bit. They can certainly use another defender who keeps opponents on their toes, in addition to bringing a slick skill set.

“I think he’s a really good skater. I’d call him almost an elite skater, a puck moving defenceman,” Mark Hillier, the Jets director of amateur scouting, said after the team selected him in the second round.

“He plays with an edge and some sandpaper to him.”

In that sense, he carries himself a lot bigger than his 6-0, 172 pound frame would suggest.

“I just try to play hard every shift. I think when I play physical that’s when I’m on top of my game, so I’m going to keep doing that,” said Salomonsson, who is trying to add a bit more weight this summer.

Salomonsson, along with Heinola, are the clear top two blue-line prospects in the system right now. It remains to be seen how much rope incoming head coach Scott Arniel might be willing to give them, although he’s on record as stating the importance of incorporating youth onto the roster.

Salomonsson spoke regularly with Jets director of player development Jimmy Roy, who also got overseas to watch him play on multiple occasions.

“They were really happy with how I developed and how I played this season,” he said. “They are excited, like me, for me to come over next season.”

Salomonsson also tried to keep an eye on the Jets, something he admits can be difficult from such a distance.

“I didn’t watch so many games. It’s a bit hard when the games are in the middle of the night, but I would watch highlights every morning,” he said.

It’s possible some seasoning with the Manitoba Moose could be required, but Salomonsson said he’s prepared to do whatever possible to realize his NHL dreams. The fact the AHL club plays in the same city is a bonus.

He’ll be in Winnipeg in early July for summer development camp, then make the full-time move here along with his girlfriend. Having a few fellow Swedes in the organization such as David Gustafsson, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Simon Lundmark, Daniel Torgersson and Fabian Wagner will help, too.

“It’s going to be a little bit easier with the transition,” said Salomonsson.

After going on such a lengthy playoff run, he took a few weeks away from the rink to stop and collect his breath and savour what was truly a magical season.

“It was really special to win at home, too, with all the family in the stands and all my friends. It was the best possible way I could imagine,” he said.

Now, he’s back at the rink on a daily basis as an exciting new chapter beckons.

“That’s my focus,” said Salomonsson. “It’s an important summer here for me to train hard and get better, so hopefully I can make the (Jets).”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg