Yesterday, the Winnipeg Jets were able to sign their last remaining restricted free agent defenseman, Neal Pionk to a four-year contract. (You can read all about Pionk’s new contract by clicking the “NEXT” link at the bottom of this article).
Pionk signing to remain in Winnipeg comes after the Jets signed Logan Stanley to a two-year deal along with the Jets trading for Brenden Dillon and Nate Schmidt.
With all of those deals done, the Jets now have nine defensemen on their roster. These defensemen are Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Brenden Dillon, Nate Schmidt, Dylan DeMelo, Logan Stanley, Sami Niku, Nathan Beaulieu, and Ville Heinola.
The Winnipeg Jets defensive corps looks set for the 2021-2022 season
With the plethora of defensemen listed above, it does not look like Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets front office will bring in any more defensemen for next season. If anything, we could see the Jets lose a defenseman, like Niku, by way of trade to open up more salary cap room in an effort to sign one or two more forwards.
Since Winnipeg’s defense looks set, the question now becomes: What will Winnipeg’s defensive pairs look like when next season begins.
As of right now, the Jets’ top-five defensemen are (in no particular order): Pionk, Morrissey, DeMelo, Dillon, and Schmidt. This leaves a battle for the final spot between Stanley, Beaulieu, Heinola, and Niku.
There is a good chance we will see Beaulieu and Stanley rotate on the Jets’ third pair with DeMelo depending on matchups with opposing teams.
This then leaves Heinola and Niku as the two extras. If that is the case, there is a strong chance we could see one or both of these players start the season in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose.
Here is how the Jets may lineup on defense throughout next season:
Dillon-Pionk
Morrissey-Schmidt
Stanley/Beaulieu-DeMelo
Extras: Heinola, Niku
Winnipeg Jets Fans: What do you think the Winnipeg Jets’ defense pairings will be for the upcoming season? Leave your comments below!