Jets defence can’t rest Salomonsson’s surgery calls for club to make blue-line changes in off-season By: Ken Wiebe Posted: 3:03 PM CDT Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

It won’t be a major overhaul for the Winnipeg Jets blue line, but there’s certainly an opportunity to make some improvements to the back end this summer for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and company.

Roster construction is top of mind as the Jets and 28 other teams continue to watch what’s happening in the Stanley Cup race.

While the NHL is a copycat league, the teams that have advanced to the Western and Eastern Conference finals — the Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens — don’t exactly fit under the one-size-fits-all template.

After taking a look at the second-line centre position, it’s time to identify another area that should welcome some additional talent, whether that’s via trade or free agency.

A high-end defenceman might ultimately be available if the Jets use the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, but it’s unlikely that player can jump immediately into the NHL lineup this fall.

From watching the Manitoba Moose during the club’s seven games in the Calder Cup playoffs, Jets management would have learned that Isaak Phillips continues to look like a capable depth option — whether that’s competing for a job on the third pairing or somewhere in the seventh to eighth slot in the organization.

A lot of that slotting will depend on what happens during the next few months, but Phillips logged big minutes and had significant responsibility against the Milwaukee Admirals and Grand Rapids Griffins.

The other Moose blue-liner that boosted his stock was Tyrel Bauer, who is no longer exclusively known for his willingness to drop the gloves.

Coupled with the shoulder surgery to Elias Salomonsson — who has emerged as someone who is ready to take on a bigger role in the NHL once he returns to full health — the door may be slightly more ajar for both Bauer and Phillips in training camp.

At the bare minimum, they’re at the front of the line for an early-season recall.

But that’s not to suggest the internal options are going to be given a clear path to win the job.

The Jets have six blue-liners under contract that ended the season with the Jets: Josh Morrissey, Dylan DeMelo, Dylan Samberg, Neal Pionk, Haydn Fleury and Salomonsson — whose timeline for recovery means he won’t likely be ready for opening night.

Morrissey, Samberg and DeMelo all have two seasons left before they have the ability to become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2028.

Fleury, who was limited to 38 games last season due to injury, has one season left on his contract while Pionk’s six-year pact expires in the summer of 2029.

The Jets have some promising prospects including 2025 first-rounder Sascha Boumedienne and Alfons Freij, who helped Sweden capture a gold medal at the world junior hockey championship in January.

But Boumedienne has transferred to Ohio State for his junior season in the AHL, while Freij appeared in five games with the Moose this spring after finishing up in Sweden and he’s going to require some seasoning in the minors before he’s ready to compete for NHL duty.

Edison Engle, chosen by the Jets in the sixth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, is coming off a solid Ontario Hockey League season with the Brantford Bulldogs and is heading to Western Michigan this fall, so he’s at least a year or two away from turning pro.

Which brings us to six blue-liners who could appeal to the Jets this off-season:

Colton Parayko

St. Louis Blues

Contract status: Signed through 2029-30, AAV of US$6.5 million

Age: 33

2025-26 stats: 77 GP, 4 G, 14 A, 18 P, 23 PIM

The skinny: A Stanley Cup champion in 2019 who has partnered with Morrissey at the 4 Nations Face-Off and at the 2026 Olympics, Parayko would add size and experience to the right side. He would also bring cost certainty for the next four seasons, which aligns with many members of the Jets’ core group. His ranginess also makes him an effective penalty killer and his booming shot from the point could appeal to the second power-play unit. Parayko used his full-movement clause to turn down a potential deal to the Buffalo Sabres, but might a move to Winnipeg have more appeal to someone who is from Edmonton? The cost of acquisition (should Parayko be interested in joining the Jets) would be the key here. But adding someone like Parayko could make it more appealing for Morrissey and Samberg to extend as early as early as next summer. From where we sit, moving the 8th overall pick in 2026 shouldn’t be on the table, but the Jets have other options that should make it appealing for the Blues to consider.

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Michael Kesselring

Buffalo Sabres

Contract status: Pending RFA

Age: 26

2025-26 stats: 34 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 P, 50 PIM

The skinny: There’s no doubt it was a disappointing campaign for the mobile D-man, as an ankle injury limited his ability to make much of a contribution. Being limited to one playoff game isn’t necessarily an indicator of how head coach Lindy Ruff or the organization feels about the long-term forecast for Kesselring, but it’s also important to remember Jarmo Kekalainen wasn’t the GM who traded for him either. It’s possible he could be available via trade, especially since he needs a new contract. A lot of teams will view him as a bounce-back candidate as he’s just a year removed from posting seven goals and 29 points in 82 games with Utah and stands six-foot-five.

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Antti Tuomisto

Detroit Red Wings (Grand Rapids Griffins)

Contract status: Group 6 pending UFA

Age: 25

2025-26 stats: 68 GP, 8 G, 21 A, 29 P, 34 PIM

The skinny: A second round pick (35th overall) of the Red Wings in 2019, this Finnish D-man logged heavy minutes on the top pairing against the Moose during the Calder Cup playoffs. He moves well for someone in a six-foot-five, 218-pound frame, makes a strong first pass and plays a sturdy game. Since the Red Wings have a crowded right side, including prospects Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Anton Johansson, Tuomisto is likely looking for a place with opportunity and the Jets might be able to provide that.

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Brenden Dillon

New Jersey Devils

Contract status: Signed through 2026-27, AAV of US$4 million

Age: 35 (turns 36 in November)

2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 3 G, 12 A, 15 P, 89 PIM

The skinny: He’s someone who never really wanted to leave the Jets organization and someone who could check some important boxes with a potential reunion. Not only was he an important part of the culture change that occurred, Dillon still plays a physical game and is willing to stand up for his teammates when the situation arises. He averaged 18 minutes per game last season and still moves well for someone with 1,056 NHL games on his resumé to go along with 84 more during the post-season. Dillon is also someone who could help the Jets penalty kill.

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Mario Ferraro

San Jose Sharks

Contract status: Pending UFA

Age: 27 (turns 28 in September)

2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 7 G, 16 A, 23 P, 35 PIM

The skinny: Known most as a stay at home blue-liner who plays a physical game, the second round pick (49th overall) of the Sharks in 2017 is someone who was believed to be on the Jets’ radar before they acquired Luke Schenn at the deadline in 2025. Ferraro isn’t a big point producer (he’s eclipsed 20 points only twice in his seven NHL seasons) but he averaged just over 21 minutes per game and never finished with fewer than 120 hits, so he fits what the Jets are trying to do in terms of being harder to play against. Plus he can help the penalty kill.

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Brett Kulak

Colorado Avalanche

Contract status: Pending UFA

Age: 32

2025-26 stats: 83 GP, 1 G, 11 A, 12 P, 38 PIM (with Oilers, Penguins and Avalanche)

The skinny: After making a solid contribution to the Edmonton Oilers during consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup finals, this versatile blue-liner has done an excellent job since he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Sam Girard and a 2028 second-rounder. Kulak might not be flashy, but his play seems to elevate as the stakes rise and his ability to play either the left or right side makes him even more valuable. His series-clinching goal in OT against the Minnesota Wild should only boost his stock as he prepares to hit the open market.

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