The Winnipeg Jets have recalled defenceman Isaak Phillips from the Manitoba Moose. The move came after defenceman Colin Miller was placed on injured reserve retroactive to January 11th.
Additionally, the Manitoba Moose recalled forward Jacob Julien from the Norfolk Admirals after recently assigning him to play in the ECHL. Julien spent the 2025 leg of the 2025-26 season recovering from an injury sustained in training camp.
Phillips was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks for Dmitri Kuzmin just three days shy of exactly one year ago. The Blackhawks drafted Phillips in the fifth round in 2020, and he’s suited up in 56 NHL games from 2021 to 2025. In that time, Phillips posted 12 points (2G, 10A), with his career high coming in the 2023-24 season of six assists in 33 games played.
Since being acquired and playing for the Moose, Phillips has played 72 games and posted 21 points (6G, 15A) and has emerged as one of Manitoba’s top defenders. He frequently found himself on the Moose’s first pairing with Elias Salomonsson, and the pair have now been recalled to the NHL on separate occasions.
Salomonsson played four NHL games in his previous run with the Jets, and he was held scoreless throughout that run. It is unclear at the time of writing when Phillips will find himself in NHL game action. Right now, it seems as if Phillips is a depth recall behind Luke Schenn, but that remains to be seen.
In the case of Jacob Julien, he just made his professional debut on January 9th against the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL. The 21-year-old centre suited up in two games for the Norfolk Admirals, but was held scoreless in that time.
Julien is a depth recall for the Moose, and he’ll most likely find his way into a game sometime in the not-too-distant future for Manitoba. The 6-foot-4 left-shot centre has enjoyed success in the OHL, winning back-to-back OHL championships in 2024 and 2025, and a Memorial Cup in 2025, all with the London Knights.
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Conrad Jack is a Manitoba based sportswriter covering the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) and the Manitoba Moose (AHL). He also covers the NHL Draft and World Junior Championship for ITR. He occasionally covers league wide news for Inside The Rink.