Jets Hand Out Five One-Year, Two-Way Contracts

Los Angeles Kings left wing Samuel Fagemo (68) shoots on goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Winnipeg Jets have handed out one-year, two-way contracts to Isaac Poulter, Kale Clague, Phillip Di Giuseppe, Walker Duehr and Samuel Fagemo.

Poulter, a 23-year-old goaltender, has been bouncing between the New Jersey Devils' AHL and ECHL affiliate for the past three seasons. The 2024-25 campaign was spent entirely in the AHL for Poulter, posting an .898 SP and a 2.86 GAA in 36 games. 

The hometown Winnipeg, MB, native will return home and battle for the starting goalie spot in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose. 

Clague was once a second-round pick (51st overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft, but his career hasn't gone in the direction he and many others thought it would. The 26-year-old has played 94 NHL games in his career, but has played just three in the previous two seasons.

Clague put up strong offensive numbers with a stacked Rochester Americans team and should provide some offence from the blue line, replacing Simon Lundmark, who has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a two-year, two-way deal. 

Di Giuseppe is the most experienced player of the five, skating in 302 career NHL games. Unfortunately for the 31-year-old, consistency in the big leagues has been his issue, and it's why he's never played more than 51 games in a season.

Di Giuseppe also joins the Moose roster with the experience of winning a Calder Cup, as the left-winger played a vital role on the Abbotsford Canucks' 2024-25 Calder Cup trophy win. 

Duehr is a 27-year-old, 6'3 right-winger whose production in the AHL is great, but has struggled to transition it to the NHL. With 92 games of NHL experience, Duehr has scored 11 goals and 21 points. 

Like Di Giuseppe, Duehr will be relied upon in the AHL but could serve as a bottom-six replacement in the NHL if the team runs into injury issues at any point in the season.

Fagemo, the final player of the five, is a former second-round pick (50th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft with slick hands and a great shot. Fagemo dominated the 2020 World Juniors, which increased his expectations that he hasn't been able to live up to. 

His opportunities in the NHL have been scarce, playing just 21 games despite impressive AHL numbers. In 2023-24, the 25-year-old scored 43 goals and 62 points in 50 games. 

The Jets needed to shore up their AHL depth, and with these signings, they've done just that. 

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