Shattering initial recovery timelines, Elias Salomonsson’s accelerated shoulder rehab positions the hard-hitting Swedish blueliner to challenge for a roster spot during Winnipeg's upcoming preseason push.
After missing significant time with a shoulder injury, it appears one of the Winnipeg Jets' top prospects is starting to look healthy, with reports suggesting he could be back in time for the start of the 2026-27 season.
Illegal Curve's Dave Minuk has heard from a source that defense prospect Elias Salomonsson could return sooner than expected, potentially around training camp or the start of the season.
Winnipeg had initially projected a five- to six-month recovery timeline following his shoulder surgery in late April, a best-case scenario that would have kept him out of training camp entirely. Less than four months later, this updated trajectory represents a notably better outlook than the one the club laid out at the time.
The former second-round pick from 2022 has finally grown and matured into a defenseman ready to play at the NHL level, and this past season he finally got the chance to prove it, appearing in 32 games and recording a goal and four assists for five points with a minus-six rating.
Salomonsson, 21, also spent 29 games with the Manitoba Moose at the AHL level, picking up a goal and eight assists for nine points and a minus-two rating. After returning from a concussion to help the Moose's playoff push, the Swedish defender appeared in two games before sliding hard into the boards on a routine neutral-zone hit, an injury that ultimately required shoulder surgery and closed out his year.
The hope now is that Salomonsson can get back to full health and push for a spot on Winnipeg's roster. As a right-shot defenseman, he has a real opportunity to slot into the bottom pairing if he's able to beat out competition like Jack St. Ivany and Haydn Fleury for a job.
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