Jets defenceman Salomonsson undergoes surgery, will be sidelined five to six months

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) and Elias Salomonsson (57) grab the loose puck as Anaheim Ducks' Beckett Sennecke (45) skates after it during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 10, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Greenslade

WINNIPEG — Winnipeg Jets defenceman Elias Salomonsson underwent shoulder surgery on Thursday and will be sidelined for five to six months, the NHL team said.

The best-case scenario of Salomonsson’s recovery timeline would see the second-year defenceman complete his rehabilitation around the start of the 2026-27 season, keeping him out of training camp.

Salomonsson was selected by the Jets in the second round, 55th overall at the 2022 NHL draft.

After starting the 2025-26 season with the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose, he was called up to the Jets on Nov. 25 and had a goal and four assists in 32 games.

His NHL season ended after he sustained a concussion following a hit by Dallas forward Jason Robertson on April 2. He was cleared to play on April 22 and joined the Moose for their push toward the Calder Cup playoffs.

He appeared in two playoff games for the Moose but appeared to injure himself when he slid into the boards during their 2-1 first-round win over the Milwaukee Admirals.

The Jets also said forward Nikita Chibrikov underwent core muscle surgery last week and will be sidelined six to eight weeks.

Chibrikov appeared in 11 games with the Jets in 2025-26 and did not record a point. He had six goals and 10 assists in 53 games with the Moose.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2026.

The Canadian Press