Elias Salomonson was the youngest player selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. A week later the 17-year-old Swedish defenseman became the first member of Winnipeg’s ’22 Draft Class’ to sign with the hockey club.
The 6-0,172-pound Regard, who was the Jets second round pick (55th), has been drafted into a three-year entry-level deal with an NHL median annual value of $950K.
Salomansson, who turns 18 on 31 August, will play for Swedish league’s Skeleftia this coming season after suing for four different teams in 2021-22. His entry-level contract with the Jets would not be active until he began playing in North America.
The smooth skating right shot defenseman did not record a point in 10 games with Skelleftia in the SHL, but scored 11 goals and added 11 assists for 22 points in 35 games at the junior level.
Salomonsen represented his country in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament as well as the World Junior U18 Championship.