Everyone who watched Elias Salomonsson in the AHL this season would agree he played beyond his years.

“The way he does a lot of things, you’d think he’s a veteran player in our league,” Manitoba Moose coach Mark Morrison told Sportsnet back in April.

For those inside the Winnipeg Jets organization, the maturity in the six-foot-two, right-handed defenceman’s game isn’t surprising.

The Jets’ 2022 second-round pick is coming off an eye-opening rookie season in the AHL. Salomonsson racked up 27 points in 53 games — ranking sixth in points per game among under-21 AHL defencemen (0.51) — while logging over 20 minutes a night, matching up against opponents’ top scorers and playing key roles on both the power play and penalty kill. He even earned a spot in the AHL All-Star Game.

Salomonsson is a sturdy two-way defenceman with clear top-four potential.

“We have a role model in front of him, for me: that’s Dylan Samberg,” Arniel said.

While Salomonsson isn’t an exact clone — arguably a better puck-handler and skater, but not as strong defensively — his path resembles what Samberg has become.

“He’s an intelligent player,” Morrison said. “He sees the ice well. He plays an easy game — always in the right position, never scrambling after loose pucks. That saves him energy. He can play 22 to 25 minutes and still look fresh.”

“He’s got the ability to slow the play down and let the game come to him,” Moose defenceman Ashton Sautner added. “That’s hard for a lot of younger defenders, whether NHL or AHL, but he’s got this quiet confidence.”

Salomonsson’s game took a big step forward after he missed nearly two months with an upper-body injury sustained on Dec. 6.

Watching from the press box gave him a new perspective.

“When you’re playing, you don’t see the whole picture,” Salomonsson said. “Watching from above, you see situations you could handle better.”

After returning, he showed little rust, becoming more consistent at making quick plays under pressure and playing more aggressively on defence.

Adjusting to the smaller North American ice wasn’t easy.

“The corners are tighter here. It’s easier for the forechecker to close on you,” Salomonsson said. “In Sweden, you have more time and space along the wall.”

He said winning those 50-50 battles is key to keeping possession in the smaller rink.

“He’s really poised with the puck and has come a long way in a lot of areas,” Morrison said. “For example, he wasn’t a power-play guy before, but he’s worked hard and has become a great power-play quarterback in the AHL. He picks things up quick and applies that to other parts of his game.”

So, when can Jets fans expect to see Salomonsson in a Winnipeg uniform?

The Jets are known for being patient with prospects. Heading into the 2025-26 season, they have four right-handed defencemen under contract: Dylan DeMelo, Neal Pionk, Luke Schenn, and Colin Miller.

“The biggest thing is we want to make sure that when he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go. We’re not force-feeding this,” Arniel said. “He’s a good enough player that he’ll find his way in.”