The Jets took a risk on Sunday when they placed smooth-skating defenceman Declan Chisholm on waivers.
The 2018 5th rounder has only played two games for Winnipeg this season going back to a pair of games in early December (2nd & 4th). He also played six games in the AHL for their AHL affiliate in Manitoba on a conditioning assignment which began November 12th and ran until November 24th.
Unfortunately for him all of the above doesn’t add up to a whole lot of hockey which isn’t ideal for a 24-year old pro.
In total the Bowmanville, Ontario product has played four games in the NHL including the two this year and he played two during the 2021-22 season for the Jets.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
The hope clearly was that they could get him down to Manitoba playing games for their AHL affiliate which would have been a big boost for the Moose and at least meant that Chisholm played some big minutes instead of occupying a spot in the pressbox most nights.
However the risk proved costly as Elliotte Friedman announced this afternoon that he has been claimed by the Minnesota Wild. It is good news for Chisholm who will have a chance with his new hockey club to prove he can be an everyday NHLer. Sure makes the final game of the season between these two rivals on February 20th a potentially very interesting one.
We shall see if this becomes similar to what happened with right-shot Dman Jonathan Kovacevic when the 2017 3rd rounder of the Jets was claimed by the Habs and has now played 118 games in the NHL for Montreal after getting into just four with Winnipeg.
