Winnipeg news: The Jets won 8-3 in Dallas on Thursday night, and the victory came at a real cost. Dylan DeMelo week-to-week is now the headline out of that rout, after the veteran defenceman went down in the first period and never came back.
Dylan DeMelo week-to-week is the word after the Jets defenceman left Thursday’s 8-3 win over Dallas with a lower body injury in the first period. He got tangled with Mikko Rantanen in front of his own net, could not put weight on his right leg, and left with a teammate’s help. Coach Scott Arniel confirmed the status after the game.
By Maplestime News Desk | Winnipeg, Manitoba | November 13, 2026
Sources: TSN, Illegal Curve | Last updated: November 13, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Dylan DeMelo left Thursday’s 8-3 win over Dallas in the first period with a lower body injury and is out week to week.
- He got tangled with Mikko Rantanen in front of his own net. Rantanen fell on his leg, and DeMelo could not put weight on his right leg.
- DeMelo has 1 goal and 8 points in 20 games this season, averaging 19:22 of ice time in his eighth season with the Jets.
- The win was Winnipeg’s fifth straight, all since the five goal comeback over Montreal on November 3. The Jets are 9-8-3.
- Elias Salomonsson remains away from the team for personal reasons, so a recall from the Moose is possible before Saturday’s game in Chicago.
What happened to DeMelo in Dallas?
The injury happened early, and it looked bad right away. DeMelo got tangled up with Stars forward Mikko Rantanen in front of his own net, and Rantanen fell on his leg. DeMelo could not put weight on his right leg as he skated off the ice with a teammate’s help.
The team announced he would not return for the second period. Head coach Scott Arniel confirmed after the game that DeMelo is considered week to week with a lower body injury. That is the only timeline the team has given, and it is the only one that counts until the Jets say otherwise.
Dylan DeMelo in action for the Jets against Washington in January 2022. Photo: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What does Dylan DeMelo week-to-week mean for the Jets blue line?
DeMelo is the kind of defenceman a team only misses once he is gone. The six foot one right shot defenceman has 1 goal and 8 points in 20 games this season while averaging 19:22 of ice time a night. He is in his eighth season with the Jets, with 17 goals and 126 points in his Winnipeg tenure, and he eats the hard minutes that never show up on a highlight reel.
The timing is awkward. Elias Salomonsson remains away from the team for personal reasons, so Winnipeg is suddenly thin on the right side. If the Jets recall a defenceman from the Moose, Henry Thrun or Isaak Phillips are the likely options. The good news is the Moose are in Chicago, so help is close at hand before Saturday’s game.
Can the Jets keep the streak alive without him?
Thursday’s win was Winnipeg’s fifth straight victory, all since the five goal comeback over Montreal on November 3. The Jets are 9-8-3, tied for fifth in the Central with Utah and one point behind Dallas for fourth. This is a team playing its best hockey of the season, and now it has to prove it can keep rolling while a top four defenceman heals.
Next up is a visit to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, November 14, then home for a four game homestand starting with Ottawa on Tuesday. A short absence is survivable. A long one would test a blue line that is already stretched.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will Dylan DeMelo be out?
The team has only said week to week, and no return date has been set. Until the Jets give a firmer update, that is the full timeline.
Who replaces DeMelo on the blue line?
If Winnipeg recalls a defenceman from the Moose, Henry Thrun or Isaak Phillips are the likely options. The Moose are in Chicago, so a call up could arrive quickly.
When do the Jets play next?
At the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, November 14, then home for a four game homestand starting with Ottawa on Tuesday.
Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg, home of the Jets. Photo: Wpg_guy, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Maplestime will provide updates from the Jets blue line as announcements are made.
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