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The day after the Winnipeg Jets first loss to a Western conference loss to the Nashville Predators have recalled Ville Heinola from the Manitoba Moose after his conditioning stint with the AHL team. As well the Jets would put Defenceman Dylan Samberg on IR.
Heinola was sent down to the AHL last Monday had three days to practice and played two games with Moose and would score one assist. Heinola will meet the rest of the Jets in Minnesota before their game against the Wild Monday night.
Heinola spent the first quarter of the season recovering from an ankle infection. The infection is from a screw that was inserted into his ankle during surgery last season when he broke his ankle in the final preseason game against the Ottawa Senators.
The Finnish defenceman might take a reduced role with Neal Pionk on the second pair in his first NHL game since January 19th 2023 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 23-year-old had 27 points (10G / 17A) in 41 AHL games with Manitoba last season. He has played in just 35 games over his career, registering a goal and 10 assists.
Heinola would sign a two-year contract with the Jets this past summer worth an AAV of $800,000. In 152 AHL games, Heinola has notched 23 goals and 79 assists for 102 points, including eight points in 11 Calder Cup Playoff appearances.
With the loss of the Jets tough shutdown defenceman Samberg it will take a bit of getting used to this new pairing for Jets fans and the players.
Heinola made a name for himself thanks to his play on the international stage with Team Finland before being drafted by the Jets 20th overall in 2019. He played for Suomi at the 2017 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2019 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship. Heinola also was on the Finnish teams in three straight IIHF World Junior Championships, winning gold in 2019 and bronze in 2021, where he was named to the tournament all-star team.