The organization reshuffled its bench and training room, poaching skills coach Matt Larke from Seattle while promoting veteran medical staff to bolster support ahead of training camp.
On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets announced a series of changes to their staff, along with corresponding moves for their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.
The Jets are bringing in a new skills coach, hiring Matt Larke away from the Seattle Kraken, where he spent the previous four seasons as skills consultant. The 39-year-old Oxford, Michigan native played eight seasons of professional hockey, splitting most of his career between the Central Hockey League and the ECHL, before retiring and beginning his coaching career in 2017.
On the medical side, Zach Salmonson is being called up from the Moose to join Winnipeg's staff as massage therapist and assistant athletic therapist. Salmonson spent the past 11 seasons with Manitoba's medical staff, including the last seven as head athletic therapist.
That opening in Manitoba is being filled with a pair of promotions and additions of its own. Andy Grant has been elevated to head athletic therapist for the Moose after spending the previous four seasons as the club's assistant athletic therapist. Taking over Grant's old role as assistant athletic therapist is Layne Richardson, who spent the past three seasons in the same capacity with the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors.
Winning at the NHL level requires a complete team effort from top to bottom, and the Jets are hoping these behind-the-scenes staff adjustments can provide meaningful gains as the organization heads into training camp.
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