3 days Ago By Ken Wiebe
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When it comes to the fringes of an NHL roster, beauty is almost always in the eye of the beholder — with multiple factors weighing in to who is in the lineup and who might be on the outside looking in, not to mention for how long. As the Winnipeg Jets prepared to face the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night in a game that wasn’t over at press time, the latest shoe in dropped earlier in the day when Dylan Coghlan was placed on waivers. Ryan Sun / The Associated Press files Jets defenceman Colin Miller (right) hasn’t missed a beat since returning to the lineup.
Should Coghlan clear waivers at 1 p.m. CT on Thursday, he’s likely going to be assigned to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.
The Jets are hoping none of the other 31 teams in the NHL put in a claim for Coghlan, who has been limited to one game this season after he was acquired for future considerations from the Carolina Hurricanes during the off-season. Coghlan actually showed well in his lone action with the Jets, especially when you consider the circumstances. With Nikolaj Ehlers activated from injured reserve on Wednesday afternoon and Nikita Chibrikov not eligible to be sent down because he sustained an injury when he blocked a shot in the first period of Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks, the Jets needed to make a move to create an open roster spot.
Where does that leave things in the battle for playing time on the Jets third defensive pairing? Well, let’s just say the competition is ongoing and figures to be for the foreseeable future, though some hints are being dropped along the way by Jets head coach Scott Arniel, both in terms of his words and his deployment. What’s been apparent is Haydn Fleury has taken the biggest strides while Dylan Samberg has been sidelined by a broken foot that figures to have him on the shelf until the calendar turns to 2025. Just how long he remains out is up in the air, though Fleury has taken advantage of the additional playing time on the second pairing with Neal Pionk and he appears to have a leg up in this multiplayer competition.
Fleury has showcased his mobility and been used on the penalty kill during Samberg’s extended absence, demonstrating a willingness to get into shooting lanes and block shots. Although he’s been on the ice for more goals allowed (13) than goals scored (10) at five-on-five, Fleury has the early edge and will be in consideration for inclusion in the lineup even after Samberg returns to full health. That’s an impressive development for someone who is with his fifth NHL organization after being chosen seventh overall in the 2014 NHL Draft and entered the season in a battle for the seventh and eighth spots on the depth chart.
Checking in next is Logan Stanley, who has suited up in 11 consecutive games since returning to the lineup on Nov. 29 from a mid-body injury. Stanley is a polarizing figure with a certain segment of the fan base, but it’s clear the Jets organization and coaching staff believes in the player and is waiting for him to take the next step in his development.
Arniel has spoken at length about wanting Stanley to use his physical attributes on a more consistent basis and to become someone who is leaned on in penalty-killing situations. Given his stature at 6-7 and 231 pounds, clearing the front of the net, winning one-on-one battles and throwing a few more hits is the expectation. Stanley has been on the ice for 10 goals for and six against at five-on-five this season, though he has also been for six goals against while shorthanded (four-on-five).
Ville Heinola had appeared in seven games going into Wednesday’s action as he works his way back from a second surgery related to the fractured ankle he suffered in October of 2023. Heinola hasn’t looked out of place and he’s shown he’s made some improvements on the defensive side of the game. While recognizing the sample size is small, Heinola has been on the ice for four goals for and just one against at five-on-five.
Tony Avelar / The Associated Press Winnipeg Jets blue-liner Haydn Fleury has made the most of the opportunities presented by Dylan Samberg’s injury. The next step for him is continuing to show he can be trusted defensively, while activating a bit more on the rush as the offensive part of his game comes to the forefront. That’s been the easy part for Heinola for most of his pro career, but as he’s getting his feet beneath him, it’s the area where he needs to do more.
With no points and five shots on goal so far, Heinola’s best chance to get into the lineup more frequently is to bring his offensive flair while not raising his risk profile too much. That’s a delicate balance, but also an essential one for him to navigate — especially with limited power-play time available to show off some of his better attributes. Veteran Colin Miller is also involved in the competition and he’s the most-known commodity, clearly in the pole position to occupy the right side with regularity, given that’s his strong side.
Miller handled a recent string of healthy scratches well and didn’t miss a beat when he jumped back into the lineup. Before the team went out on the road for this two-game stretch, Arniel pointed out Miller was well aware of his situation when he opted to re-up with the Jets rather than pursue another opportunity in free agency. With Samberg expected to return at some point in January, the level of urgency for guys such Stanley and Heinola should be on the rise.
Now the tricky part is finding that delicate balance of knowing they need to elevate their respective games while not putting too much pressure on themselves to do so. That figures to be fascinating to watch during the coming weeks. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions.
Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Now, it would come as a surprise if the Jets didn’t look to upgrade the defence prior to the NHL trade deadline no matter how the next few weeks unfold. Whether that means taking a bigger swing for someone to play in the Top-4 or adding a physical player for the third pairing remains to be seen.
Trade boards are being put together and some deals are being made around the league, but for the time being, the Jets are trying to figure out what they have internally before finalizing the shopping lists they will pursue in the near future, most likely in the form of a pre-emptive strike. ken.wiebe@freepress.
mb.ca X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the , with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the , , Sportsnet.
ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the in 1999 and returned to the in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. .
Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism.
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Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the , with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the , , Sportsnet.ca and TSN.
Ken was a summer intern at the in 1999 and returned to the in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. . Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism.
Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider .
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement.
