The Manitoba Moose have gained some valuable reinforcements.
Thanks to various injuries, recoveries, conditioning stints and loans, the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, Norfolk Admirals and Idaho Steelheads have undergone some recent changes to their respective rosters.
This week, the Winnipeg Jets have seen forward Gabriel Vilardi suit up in a regular, full-contact practice sweater over the course of their past number of morning skates and practices.
This means that the first-year Jets forward is nearing his return to action.
But what it also meant is that the team needed to make some adjustments to its organizational depth.
With a ripple effect stemming from Vilardi's injury to Rasmus Kupari's injury, the Jets recalled Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Dominic Toninato from the Moose.
Although AJF does still remain in Winnipeg, Toninato has been sent back down to Manitoba in order to open up the necessary space for Vilardi to make his official return.
Prior to that move, the Jets were in the midst of a conditioning stint for defender Declan Chisholm. Having cracked the NHL roster out of training camp, Chisholm has been hung up behind Logan Stanley on the depth chart - a place neither player has really been able to see much game action.
With the only injury to a defenceman being Ville Heinola - who is likely due to begin practicing again soon - there really hasn't been any opportunity for growth and development for the two aforementioned blueliners.
Chisholm was sent down to the Moose, which prompted Manitoba to move Dawson Barteaux to the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads to make some room.
Chisholm has since concluded his two week conditioning stint and is back on Winnipeg's roster.
Manitoba also sent Dmitry Kuzmin to Norfolk earlier in the month to help get him into game action. He suited up in 10 ECHL games and recorded two points. On Tuesday he was recalled to Manitoba, with Chisholm making his way back to Winnipeg.
The Moose now have seven defenders on their active roster, including offensive blueliner and 2022-23 Jets regular Kyle Capobianco, local product Dean Stewart, Tyrel Bauer, Artemi Kniazev, Simon Lundmark and Ashton Sautner, as well as their 2021 third round pick, Kuzmin.
With both the Jets and Moose back home following lengthy road trips, the next game action at Canada Life Centre sees Winnipeg host Edmonton on Thursday evening, before Manitoba hosts Rockford on Friday night.
