Winnipeg Jets faced the departure of one of their stars when Nikolaj Ehlers left as a free agent to join the Carolina Hurricanes. While it was a tough loss to endure, the franchise has now added a defenseman who was a former teammate of Connor Bedard with the Chicago Blackhawks, showing activity during the offseason despite losing one of their top players.
It’s true that the Jets signed Gustav Nyquist to a one-year, $3.25 million contract to strengthen their offense after Ehlers’ exit, but making additional moves to build momentum could give Winnipeg a chance to stay competitive this offseason.
At the same time, the franchise’s strategy focuses on mixing experienced players with young talents showing potential. In that sense, looking to the Blackhawks might be a smart move considering Chicago has been known for giving opportunities to younger players.
Who is the Jets’ new signing?
The former Bedard teammate joining the Jets is none other than defenseman Isaak Phillips, who signed a two-year, two-way contract with Winnipeg. His deal includes an NHL annual salary of $812,500. The 23-year-old was a fifth-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2020 and played 56 games with them, scoring one goal and adding 10 assists.
Isaak Phillips and Connor Bedard in a Blackhawks’ game (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The background and potential of Phillips
Phillips was Bedard’s teammate on the Blackhawks during the 2023-24 season. They shared the ice that year, when Phillips played in 33 NHL games and Bedard made his debut as a rookie. They also played together in three games during the 2024-25 season.
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Phillips’ arrival provides the Jets with solid depth and fresh defensive options, all within a cost-effective, development-friendly contract. His emerging profile fills a key gap in the defensive structure while allowing Winnipeg to maintain salary cap flexibility. In this context, the Jets could still make a major move to fully replace Ehlers.
