Jets’ Neal Pionk out day-to-day; Elias Salomonsson close to NHL debut
An everyday player might be out of commission, but a promising prospect could be nearing his first NHL game.
When speaking to the media on Tuesday, Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel revealed that defenseman Neal Pionk is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury. However, Arniel noted that Pionk will travel with the team as it embarks on a five-game road trip through the Eastern Conference.
#NHLJets head coach Scott Arniel says Neal Pionk is day to day and is coming on the trip.
He adds “it’s looking like” Elias Salomonsson will make his NHL debut on the road trip.
Pionk left Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Wild due to the injury after playing just 2:05 across four shifts. The Jets went on to lose the game, 3-0, giving the team back-to-back defeats on home ice.
Pionk has appeared in each of Winnipeg’s first 21 games of the season. The 30-year-old scored a goal and an assist last Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets and has totaled five points thus far. He has an even plus/minus while averaging 22:44 of ice time.
Pionk is in the first season of a six-year contract extension that he signed last April. The deal carries an AAV of $7 million through the 2030-31 season. It comes after a strong 2024-25 campaign in which the Omaha, Neb., native scored 10 goals and 39 points in 69 games, helping the Jets win the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in franchise history.
Arniel also stated on Tuesday that “it’s looking like” defenseman Elias Salomonsson will be making his NHL debut during the road trip. A second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old was recently called up from the Jets’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. After notching 27 points in 53 games with Manitoba last year, Salomonsson has notched six assists in 17 games so far this season.
The Jets (12-9-0) kick off their road swing on Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals.