Kyle Connor placed on IR, Chase De-Leo recalled

The injuries just won’t stop for the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have announced Kyle Connor will join Shawn Matthias, Bryan Little, Mathieu Perreault and Joel Armia on the IR. In a corresponding move, the Jets have re-called Chase De Leo from the Manitoba Moose to fill in the void. 

Connor, 19, has struggled to start out the year while recording 4 points in his first 16 NHL games. Connor has showed that he has the tools to become an NHL regular but he’s been snake bitten to start out his rookie year. That being said, having him on the shelf is still a loss for the Jets as the injuries continue to pile up up front.

But injuries open up opportunities for others and it’s now Chase De Leo’s turn to show what he can bring to the table. De Leo has been one of the Moose’s most consistent threats over the last year and a bit and even earned himself a call-up last season when the Jets were being rocked by injuries.

Jets fans may remember De-Leo from training camp as he made his mark as one of the team’s best performers through the pre-season. There simply wasn’t room for De-Leo to make the Jets out of training camp, but the impression he made on the Jets brass certainly resinated as he has been given another shot. 

It’ll be interesting to see where the Jets insert De-Leo in to the lineup. De-Leo is primarily a centre and one would hope he could see some time down the middle. But if it’s between putting De-Leo as the team’s fourth line centre with limited ice-time and a third or second line winger with more ice-time, it’d be best for De-Leo to play the wing so he can get more opportunity. 

Maybe he’ll get some ice-time with former junior and AHL teammate Nic Petan. The two creative and nifty forward have displayed great chemistry at the WHL and AHL levels and  maybe it will continue at the NHL level if the two are given the opportunity.