Jets ink Nyquist, lose Appleton to Wings

HIS birthplace and residence may be in Arlington Heights, Ill. — but coming to Winnipeg this week represents a bit of a happy hockey homecoming for new Jets prospect Edison Engle.

The 18-year-old defenceman, selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NHL draft Saturday, has hit the ice around here before. It was a summer tournament, nearly a decade ago.

“Some good memories. We won the tournament here so I was pretty happy about that,” Engle recalled with a chuckle Wednesday.

Engle also recalls meeting Jonathan Toews that year after a chance meeting on the street, where he was walking his dog. Toews was a hockey idol to Engle — a Blackhawks fan since birth. Now Engle and Toews are members of the same big-league organization.

“That (photo) has been up in the bedroom for a bit,” said Engle. “Obviously growing up and watching him win three Cups, being Captain Serious, it was pretty cool to see that he’s coming back here. I’m sure he’s really excited.”

Excitement also describes how Engle was feeling when the Jets called his name. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound left shot blue-liner had hopes of getting drafted at some point following a solid season in the USHL that began in Des Moines and ended in Dubuque.

“You never really know. Obviously there’s mock drafts or whatever, but those people, at the end of the day, don’t pick you,” said Engle. “Just getting drafted was my main goal, not really worrying about where that happened. Just super grateful for that day and everything the Jets have done.”

Known for his skating and puck-moving ability, Engle had 17 points (2G, 15A) in 54 regular-season games, then four assists in seven playoff contests. He’s now committed to join the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League this fall and will attend Ohio State University starting in September 2026 to play in the NCAA.

“Since I’ve been young, I’ve wanted to go the college route. Both my parents are in education so it was super important for them,” he said. “I think the OHL had the best development for me next year, getting ready for NCAA and things to come.”

The Jets, of course, will be keeping close tabs on his development, which really starts this week with the camp.

“I pride myself in my skating,” said Engle. “Just getting ready for the pro game. Brantford is going to help me a lot with that, and then preparing for college. Just rounding out everything and trying to grow into my frame is going to be pretty important for years to come.”

SIGNING SEASON: The Jets made four more signings on Wednesday.

Veteran winger Gustav Nyquist inked a one-year deal that will pay him US$3.25 million next season. The 35-year-old from Sweden has 531 points (209G, 322A) in 863 career NHL games. — including a career-high 75 points (23G, 52A) in 81 games with Nashville in 2023-24.

He fell to 28 points (11G, 17A) in 79 games last year with the Predators and Minnesota Wild, who obtained him at the trade deadline.

The move comes after the Jets added wingers Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke on one-year, US$1 million deals as free agency began Tuesday.

Moving down the depth chart, goaltender Isaac Poulter and forwards Walker Duehr and Samuel Fagemo have signed one-year, two-way deals.

Poulter, 23, is a Winnipegger who spent the past three seasons in the New Jersey Devils system, posting a record of 40-24-10 with five shutouts, a 2.88 goals-against average and .900 save percentage in 77 career AHL games. He is expected to battle for time in the Manitoba Moose crease with Dom DiVincentiis and Thomas Milic.

Duehr, 27, is a feisty forward from Sioux Falls who has 21 points (11G, 10A) in 92 NHL games with the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks, while also playing 143 AHL games over his career, producing 78 points (42G, 36A).

Fagemo, 25, is a Swedish winger who has been an offensive beast in the AHL, including 43 goals in 50 games with the Ontario Reign in 2023-24. He was picked in the second round of the 2019 NHL draft by the Los Angeles Kings and has appeared in 21 NHL games, with three goals and an assist.

The Jets signed defenceman Kale Clague and forward Phil Di Guiseppe to one-year pacts on Tuesday. Those five players should make the Moose a lot more competitive while also providing insurance for the big club.

PICTURE PERFECT: It may be a short, familiar drive from Oakbank to the Hockey For All Centre, but local product Owen Martin said this week has been like nothing he’s experienced so far in his life.

The 18-year-old centre, selected in the third-round of the draft on the weekend, said attending his first NHL development camp with his hometown team has been “unbelievable.”

“There’s kind of no words to describe it. When I was younger, I would come to these development camps and watch all these guys. And now being here, it’s just kind of a like a full circle moment for me,” said Martin, who has spent the past two seasons with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League.

“My parents, actually after I got drafted, they pulled up some pictures. There is a picture of little me holding up a shirt signed by a bunch of guys, and a couple pictures, one of me with Adam Lowry, and then one of me with Nikolaj Ehlers as well. So those are pretty cool memories to look back on.”

MOVING ON: A longtime member of the Jets organization found a new home on Wednesday.

Mason Appleton signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings that will pay him an average salary of US$2.9 million.

The 29-year-old from Wisconsin spent parts of seven seasons with the Jets after being picked in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL draft. He had 22 points (10G, 12A) in 71 regular season games last year.

Appleton joins Brandon Tanev (Utah), Dylan Coghlan (Vegas), Dominic Toninato (Chicago), Simon Lundmark (Tampa), Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (Sweden) and Rasmus Kupari (Switzerland) in changing addresses so far this off-season.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg