Imagining the Jets' Midseason Defensive Pairs and Succession Plan

It's no secret the Winnipeg Jets' defence will look different as the 2024-25 season begins this October.

The biggest question, however, is just how different will things appear? That same sentiment can be asked of both Night 1 of the season, as well as the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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With the ever-changing landscape of hot streaks, partner problems and injuries that creep up throughout the regular season, the exercise of choice is to imagine the Jets' three defensive pairings around the midway mark of the 2024-25 season, so roughly January 15.

With those aforementioned intangibles cast aside, Winnipeg's best bet on postseason success will likely from general health and consistent seven-man rotation on the back-end.

Having traded for depth pieces Dylan Coghlan and Haydn Fleury this offseason, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff added some brawn and youthful NHL experience to his arsenal on the point.

Losing veterans Brenden Dillon and Nate Schmidt to free agency will hurt Winnipeg in a couple ways, but the growth of other more youthful defencemen should help minimize the damage.

Pair No. 1:

Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo.

Fresh off signing a new four-year, $19.6 million contract that will keep him around through the 2027-28 NHL season, DeMelo's place on the team's top pair - alongside Winnipeg's Norris Trophy nominee, Josh Morrissey - appears to be secure for the foreseeable future.

Pending injury or sudden change in ability, DeMelo has been Morrissey's most consistent partner over the past number of years. Serving as a solid stay-at-home rearguard, DeMelo did manage to set some career-highs offensively last season, while allowing Morrissey to continue being an active presence on the attack.

Pair No. 2:

Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk.

The pair from Hermantown, Minnesota will be heavily relied on this season with the departure of Dillon. Having played a significant chunk of time together last year, Samberg and Pionk will need to show growth as training camp rolls into high gear this September.

Samberg will need to up his physicality, while Pionk needs a strong start to the campaign in order to snuff out the possibility of trade rumours due to poor on-ice performance. His defensive game needed help last season, and thanks to the promotion of Morrissey and Schmidt on the power play, his offensive contributions continued to sink since joining Winnipeg with a stellar Year 1.

Pair No. 3:

Ville Heinola and Collin Miller.

The veteran and the rookie. Well, not quite, but close. Heinola has had a string of bad luck to start his professional career. This two-year deal signed in the offseason will certainly be the last 'test' with Winnipeg for the young, Finnish defender. Unable to fully find a fit over the past few seasons, Heinola's best opportunity came in camp last fall, but a broken ankle derailed what was looking to be his first full NHL season.

Miller, who also had a tough go under Rick Bowness this past year, joined the Jets as a trade deadline acquisition, but hardly found his way into the lineup. He will look to fill a sandpaper role left behind by the two veteran departures, while helping nourish the life of young Heinola.

Extras:

Logan Stanley, Elias Salomonsson, Dmitry Kuzmin, Dylan Coghlan, Haydn Fleury, Simon Lundmark.

Stanley will most certainly have the inside edge for the role of the team's seventh defenceman. His experience with Winnipeg over the past four seasons has seen him fall in and out of favour with various members of the coaching staff and front office.

He will likely find himself in a rotation with Heinola and possibly Coghlan/Fleury for a sixth d-man role.

Depending on the direction the 2024-25 season takes, youngsters Salomonsson, Lundmark and Kuzmin very well may get a chance to show their worth.

With Pionk and Miller, and possibly Stanley out of Winnipeg next offseason, the Jets' defensive lineups will certainly experience a shift to a more youthful approach, unless big money spending happens in free agency.

Salomonsson, Lundmark, Kuzmin and recent 2024 NHL Draftee Alfons Freij will likely find their way into the fold, with various other depth signings filling in along the way.