The Winnipeg Jets have made a significant roster move, acquiring defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for fellow defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin. Phillips, 23, has shown promise this season, contributing one goal and seven assists with a plus-8 rating over 28 games for the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. He also played three games with the Blackhawks, scoring once.

In his five-year career, Phillips has accumulated 23 goals and 56 assists, totaling 79 points in 199 games with Rockford. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft by Chicago. In contrast, Kuzmin, 21, has had a quieter season, having registered one goal and three assists in 21 games for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. Selected by Winnipeg in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Kuzmin has played a total of 39 AHL games, scoring twice and providing five assists.