With Blake Wheeler out injured for the next couple of weeks, the Winnipeg Jets were forced to dress eleven forwards and seven defensemen on Tuesday night and it did not go well as the Jets lost 4-2 to the struggling Sabres.
Wheeler’s absence would have been perfect to integrate Riley Nash (who often found himself scratched) back into the lineup, but the Jets recently placed Nash on waivers and the Tampa Bay Lightning claimed the veteran forward.
Therefore, the Jets will call up a player from their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. Paul Maurice anticipates that this call-up will happen today.
The Winnipeg Jets should recall either David Gustafsson or Austin Poganski from the Manitoba Moose
Here is the case for each player to get called up:
David Gustafsson
Over the past two seasons, Gustafsson has found it hard to get opportunities in the NHL. Last season he only played in four games with the Jets, but this year he has played extremely well in the AHL.
Gustafsson is currently tied for the team lead in goals (seven) and leads the Moose in points (16). He is a player who can slot on the fourth line for Winnipeg alongside Jansen Harkins and Kristian Vesalainen. The twenty-one-year-old also has experience with the Jets and playing with the likes of Harkins and Vesalainen, which can definitely benefit the Jets.
Gustafsson has yet to play over nine minutes of ice time over his 26 games in the NHL. He is a player that knows what is expected when stepping into a bottom-six role with the Jets and he has made the case with his play this season in Manitoba for a call-up.
Austin Poganski
Poganski is another player who has found it hard to receive NHL opportunities. He spent most of the 2021 season on the St. Louis Blues’ taxi squad and only appeared in five NHL games. The season before that, he played in one NHL game.
The Minnesota native currently leads the Moose in assists (11) and has 15 points this season. He played well during the preseason with Winnipeg, but could not make the Jets’ opening night roster.
The twenty-five-year-old has the experience of being on an NHL roster but has not made a big difference in the games he has played in registering zero points and a minus-one plus/minus in six career NHL games. Poganski plays right-wing and is a natural fit to slot right into the vacant right wing spot on the Jets’ fourth line
We should have a great idea of who the Jets will be calling up in a couple of hours. The Moose have an 11:00 a.m. central time game against the Chicago Wolves. The omissions from the Moose’s lineup today should be a great indicator of who is being called up.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Which player do you think the Winnipeg Jets should call up from the Manitoba Moose? Leave your comments below!