Jets’ Salomonsson Proving He Belongs in the NHL

A strong skater with good situational awareness in all zones, Salomonsson’s CORSI percentage at even strength is best among Jets defensemen at 51.5, his Fenwick percentage is just below that at 49.5, and his expected goals for percentage (xGF%) is 54.29. Despite the Jets’ overall struggles for much of this season, the team has generated more scoring chances than it’s allowed while he’s on the ice (201 to 173).

Colin Miller and Neal Pionk being out with injury since mid-January — they both went on the shelf around the time Salomonsson was called up for the second time — has paved the way for the youngster to take on Pionk’s usual spot on the right side of the second pairing alongside Dylan Samberg. Head coach Scott Arniel has also deployed Salomonsson as second power-play-unit quarterback of late, where he’s put his puck-moving skills on display and snagged his first-career power-play assist.

“Turning Into an Everyday NHL Defenseman”

Within two weeks of his second callup, Salomonsson had already impressed his defensive partner and head coach.

“He’s definitely building his confidence,” Samberg said in late January. “You can see it game to game, and I think he feels a bit more established and more comfortable which is awesome to see. He’s starting to get up in the rush and everything. He’s turning into an everyday NHL defenceman, which is nice to see.”

“There were a lot of firsts for him when he came up the first time. We were in some tough buildings on the road,” Arniel said. “Now, he’s a little more settled. He recognizes that when he uses his skill set that he can be a really good defender. I like the way he jumps up (in the rush). He’s got some really good vision with the puck. And it’s great to see that a guy gets an opportunity early in the year, he went back down and came back up and took advantage of that ice time that was put in front of him.” (From ‘Samberg pays it forward to Salomonsson,’ Winnipeg Free Press, Jan. 29, 2026.)

Salomonsson Should Have Been in the Lineup Sooner

It’s baffling that Arniel beat the Luke Schenn/Logan Stanley drum for so long instead of replacing one of them with Salomonsson. Schenn and Stanley, now members of the Buffalo Sabres after being dealt at the 2026 Trade Deadline, played 45 games and 280 minutes together this season, generating a 37.50 goals for percentage (GF%) and CORSI and Fenwick percentages in the low 40s.

The Salomonsson/Samberg pairing, in 25 games and 292 minutes together, has a 47.37 GF%, 54.21 xGF%, and CORSI and Fenwick percentages around 50. Salomonsson was also more viable with Stanley than Schenn as in 17 games and 44 minutes together, they never allowed a goal while posting a 55.94 xGF% and CORSI and Fenwick percentages in the mid 50s.

Regardless of whether the Jets view themselves as still in the wild-card race or in next-season territory (they view themselves as in the former when the playoff odds show they’re in the latter, but that’s a digression) Arniel should continue to give Salomonsson meaningful minutes. It appears they are only scratching the surface of his potential and that he’ll be a key member of their blue line next season and beyond.

Salomonsson’s rise should also provide a general lesson to a Jets’ brass that has too often blocked their prospects with over-the-hill veterans: sometimes, the best thing to do is just let the kids play.