The Winnipeg Jets announced a flurry of moves today as Hadyn Fleury and Colin Miller both skated in practice with both players not too far out from a return. This resulted in Dylan Coghlan being reassigned to the Manitoba Moose, a boost for the Jets’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, but it wasn’t the only boost the Moose got today.
The Jets also announced a trade sending defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Isaak Phillips.
Kuzmin, a third-round (82nd overall) 2021 NHL draft selection, has spent time with the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL and the Manitoba Moose over the past two seasons. The 21-year-old Belarusian defender reportedly knows Artyom Levshunov and it could be helpful to both player’s development with the Rockford IceHogs.
Isaak Phillips is a great addition to the Moose’s blueline as he’s been a top-pairing defenseman for the IceHogs before the arrival of Artyom Levshunov and Kevin Korchinski. Phillips’ experience will serve as a great option for the Moose who can be recalled by the Jets should that need to happen.
Phillips brings 56 games of NHL experience with the Blackhawks with 12 points (2G, 10A) with three games and one goal at the NHL level this season. He’s posted eight points (1G, 7A) in 28 games for Rockford and will look to pad his stats with the Moose.
The Ontario defender was drafted in the fifth round (141st overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Phillips is another veteran presence on the Moose’s blueline whose strong suit is being a defensive defenseman who has bite to his game, something the Moose will utilize in the stretch run of the 2024-25 season.
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