Isaak Phillips
Isaak Phillips opens the 2026-27 season in the AHL, not with Winnipeg, after being waived and clearing to the Manitoba Moose this week, so he carries essentially no realistic fantasy value unless the Jets' blue line is hit by injury or trade.
Role
Per Inside the Rink (24-25 September 2026) and The Hockey Writers, Winnipeg placed Phillips on waivers along with forwards Nikita Chibrikov, Parker Ford and Noah Gregor for the purpose of assigning them to the Manitoba Moose (AHL); all four cleared waivers, per Inside the Rink's report from just hours ago, and Phillips has reported to Manitoba. Before that move, preseason line reports from The Hockey News (22 September) and Illegal Curve (22 September) had him paired with Alfons Freij on Winnipeg's third defense pairing during exhibition play, but that assignment is now moot: the Jets' projected regular-season top six on defense runs DeMelo/Morrissey and Samberg/Pionk as the top pairs with Fleury/Bauer and Ferraro in the mix for the third pair, per The Hockey Writers' 6 August roster projection, and Phillips is not part of that group to start the year.
He is waivers-exempt-adjacent NHL depth (three games with Winnipeg last season per Daily Faceoff) who could be recalled quickly if Winnipeg suffers a defense injury, and he already has NHL preseason reps this fall showing the club still views him as call-up depth rather than a total afterthought.
He cleared waivers unclaimed by any other team and was sent to the AHL before the season even started, which is the clearest possible signal from 32 front offices that he is not viewed as an NHL regular right now; Winnipeg's right side is deep enough that a recall is not obviously imminent.
Where analysts split
There is no analyst disagreement here worth reporting: every current source (The Hockey Writers, Global News, Inside the Rink, Winnipeg Jets PR) agrees on the same fact, that Phillips has been placed on waivers and, having cleared, is headed to the Manitoba Moose to open the season.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at D
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