NHL Rumors: Elliotte Friedman reports Winnipeg Jets are looking to make 'big' blue line additions

In his 32 Thoughts Column on Wednesday, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman discussed the Winnipeg Jets' plans to strengthen their defense. The Jets have a strong record of nine wins and just one loss.

They are also perfect with five wins on the road. Friedman mentioned that the team often makes big additions when they see a chance for success.

"Whenever Winnipeg thinks it has a chance, they add. Watching their blazing 9-1 start, the one thing that stands out is the size of their defence. You have to be mobile; you have to be skilled, but you have to be big," Friedman writes.

The Jets have notable wins, including a 6-2 victory over the Red Wings and a 6-0 win against the Oilers. The Jets also beat the Flames (5-3), Kraken (4-3) and the Penguins (6-3). Their only loss was against the Maple Leafs in a close game that ended 6-4.

Despite the Jets’ success, Friedman notes that their current defensive lineup lacks the bulk of past championship teams. Aside from Dylan Samberg, Logan Stanley and Haydn Fleury, the rest of the defense is smaller than those of previous contenders.

Samberg is 1.9 meter tall and weighs 170 pounds, while Fleury is 1.93 meter. Together, they help increase the blue line's size, but Stanley is the standout at 2.01 meter and weighs 109 kg.

The contrast between the Winnipeg Jets’ size and that of recent Cup-winning teams raises questions about their long-term success. While smaller defenses can do well, they often need to make up for it in other areas, especially physical play.

---

The Winnipeg Jets return to winning ways by beating the Red Wings

The Winnipeg Jets bounced back to winning ways, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 6-2 on Wednesday after Monday's 6-4 loss to the Maple Leafs. Jets coach Scott Arniel praised Kyle Connor, who marked his 500th NHL point with a goal and also made two assists.

“We’ve been hoping to keep Kyle as our little secret up here, but 500 points might be tough to hide,” Arniel said per NHL.com. “He’s off to a great start this year, and he’s an elite player in this league.”

In the first period, Gabriel Vilardi scored first at 2:48 with help from Connor. Neal Pionk made it 2-0 by putting in a rebound. Connor then scored at 15:44, making it 3-0 for the Winnipeg Jets.

Detroit tried to respond in the second period. Dylan Larkin scored on a power play at 8:13, while Alex DeBrincat made it 3-2 with another power-play goal. But the Jets regained control in the third period. Nino Niederreiter’s shot bounced in off Detroit goalie Alex Lyon’s stick, extending the Jets' lead to 4-2.

Pionk scored again on a power play at 7:19 before Colin Miller’s wrist shot made it 6-2.