Should Winnipeg Look To The Red Hot Danny Zhilkin If The Offense Cools Off?

The Winnipeg Jets have been surging behind red-hot forwards like Mark Scheifele and Dawson Mercer among others, but one of the top players for their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, is making a case to be considered if the offense slows down again.

Dima Zhilkin, Winnipeg's third-round pick in 2022, has not broken out at the NHL level yet, but he has steadily grown during his time with the Moose. He recorded 24 points in 62 games last season and is already six points shy of matching that total.

Through 16 games this season, Zhilkin has eight goals and ten assists for 18 points. He has at least a point in 11 of those 16 games and is riding a five-game point streak. That puts him on pace to be a potential point-per-game player.

One of the weirdest goals you’ll see as #NHLJets prospect Danny Zhilkin has got goals in back-to-back games.#MBMoose#AHLpic.twitter.com/gWvDkTeu1o

— Jets Empire (@JetsEmpire_) November 12, 2026

With the Jets looking for offense wherever they can find it, Zhilkin could get a look if the team cools off. Through their first 12 games, Winnipeg's offense was one of the league's worst at 2.33 goals per game. Since then, that number has jumped to 4.13 over the last eight games.

If the offense starts to regress toward its early-season form, the Jets could turn to another young player, as they did with Brayden Yager. After the slow start, Winnipeg called up the former first-round pick after he recorded 12 points in ten AHL games. Yager has been decent so far, with a goal and an assist through five games.

Zhilkin could be a similar option with the 22-year-old having played six games with the Jets last season, so this would be his second stint at the NHL level. After making adjustments in the offseason and looking like a different player this year, he may be worth another look, and he could finally be mature enough to stay in the NHL and become a difference-maker for Winnipeg.

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