Declan Chisholm
Chisholm’s absence from a full-time NHL job could largely be chalked up to the logjam that is the Winnipeg Jets’ defense. On other teams, he may have made his NHL presence known, but for now, it looks like another year starting in the AHL.
Chisholm, 22, has been one of the steadiest defenders for the Moose since his debut in 2020-21 and has continued to impress in the early stages of training camp. Paired with Leon Gawanke, the two have turned heads as legitimate options to wind up in the NHL. His game is largely focused on transition and keeping the puck out of his zone. In the zone, he excels in lateral movement, keeping opponents to the outside. In the rush drills in training camp, Chisholm used his skating ability to minimize attacks from the opposing players.
The issue at hand, however, is the roadblock that lies ahead. Unless several defensemen suffer an injury, Chisholm’s path to the NHL seems doubtful. That being said, if he remains steady on the back end while producing as he did in 2021-22 with the Manitoba Moose (30 points in 53 games), then he becomes a prime candidate to get called up throughout the year.