Winnipeg Jets defenseman Ville Heinola has recovered from the ankle injury that wiped out the start of his season and is ready to return to the ice, according to Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. (via TSN’s John Lu) Heinola will be activated off of injured reserve, and assigned to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose where he can get some game action under his belt before he becomes a consideration for an NHL call-up.
Heinola, 22, is a 2019 first-round pick who was excellent in the AHL last season but has not yet played in more than 12 NHL games in a single season in his career. He appeared to be making real strides in preseason and training camp in the fall, but the injury he suffered scuttled his hopes of making the season-opening roster. Now back and healthy, he’ll look to work towards a more lasting call-up to the Jets’ NHL roster.
Some other Jets notes from Cheveldayoff’s media availability today:
- Cheveldayoff told the media that they have had some conversations about a new contract with defenseman Brenden Dillon, but added that the discussions are not “ongoing.” The 33-year-old is currently entrenched as the club’s second-pairing left-shot blueliner and averages nearly 19 minutes per night, including 2:20 on the penalty kill. He’s making $3.9MM against the cap and could very well have an argument to match that number on his new deal, despite his age.
- Another blueliner Cheveldayoff confirmed some, but not ongoing, conversations with on a contract extension is Dylan DeMelo. DeMelo is currently number-one defenseman Josh Morrissey’s partner on the team’s top pairing, and is playing the second-most minutes per night of any Winnipeg Jet. He’s chewing nearly 22 minutes per night and nearly three minutes short-handed. Seeing as he’s making $3MM on his current expiring contract, the 30-year-old’s big campaign on one of the NHL’s best teams is likely to set him up nicely for a pay raise this summer.
Demelo yes
Dillon no ,,I like Dillon but he may not fit
In the budget next year