The Jets are expected to activate Dylan Samberg from injured reserve

Jets linebacker Dylan Samberg “it should be tomorrowhead coach against the Kings after missing more than six weeks with a broken foot Scott Arniel he said Murat Ates of The Athletic on Thursday. Blue star-shaped lining Josh Morrissey is also expected to play after missing Tuesday’s game against the Predators with a lower-body injury, Arniel said.

Samberg, 24, will have to come off injured reserve in order to play. Winnipeg has had an open spot on the active roster for several days now, so it won’t be a difficult task.

Samberg, who was selected in the second round of the 2017 draft, is in his third season as a full-time player on the Jets’ blue line. After this season, his role increased compared to last season Brenden Dillon signed with the Devils in free agency and Nate Schmidtplayer’s contract was purchased, averaging 20:17 of ice time per game compared to 15:38 in 2023–2024.

The 6-foot-8, 216-pound lefty outweighed the late Dillon and Dylan DeMelo as Winnipeg’s top penalty killer, averaging 2:32 per game with reduced manpower. Samberg isn’t a complete offensive player either, having three goals and three assists for six points in 21 appearances before his injury and 37 points in his first 177 NHL games with the Jets.

Samberg was strapped to Neal Pionek in Winnipeg’s second pair before he was injured, a role he will likely return to in the future. The duo scored 53.5% of expected goals, and at the beginning of the season on the ice in 5-on-5 clashes they outscored their opponents 8-4. MoneyPuck.

The Jets defense has been down in recent days, so the timing of Samberg’s return couldn’t have been better. Haydn Fleury he was sidelined for almost two weeks with a lower body injury Colin Miller will miss you some time later maintaining the broken larynx last Saturday against the Red Wings.

If Samberg picks up where he left off, he should be poised for a significant raise this summer. He is in the final season of a two-year, $2.8 million contract with a $1.4 million cap hit and will become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of the season.