Winnipeg Jets Dump 27-Year-Old Defenseman After Big Trade

The Winnipeg Jets’ roster reshuffling after dealing Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils has put defenseman Jack St. Ivany on waivers, a move that underscores his status as a depth option rather than a fixture on the NHL blue line.

The 27-year-old right-shot defender appeared in four games for Winnipeg this season, logging 13 minutes and 31 seconds per night without recording a point.

In those contests, he blocked five shots and delivered six hits, numbers that reflect a physical, responsible style but little offensive contribution at the top level.

Winnipeg acquired St. Ivany from the Pittsburgh Penguins in late June in exchange for forward David Gustafsson.

The trade brought a player who had spent the previous three seasons bouncing between Pittsburgh’s NHL roster and its American Hockey League affiliate.

Across 53 NHL games with the Penguins he managed nine points, all assists, while averaging roughly 15 to 16 minutes of ice time when given the chance.

His AHL production was more substantial: 59 points in 99 games, enough to show he can contribute when playing against slightly lesser competition.

St. Ivany’s path to the NHL was not a direct one. Originally selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, he developed through Yale and Boston College before signing as a free agent with Pittsburgh in 2022.

At Boston College, he earned Hockey East Third-Team All-Star recognition in his final collegiate season, displaying the size—listed at 6-foot-4 and nearly 200 pounds—and puck-moving ability that made him a reasonable depth prospect.

Once in the Penguins organization, he settled into a shuttle role, never locking down a permanent NHL spot but remaining useful enough to receive periodic call-ups.

Observers expect St. Ivany to clear waivers. His contract and limited NHL track record make him an unlikely claim for most clubs, especially early in the season when teams are still sorting their own rosters.

If he does pass through, he would report to the Manitoba Moose, the Jets’ AHL affiliate, where his size, right-shot handedness, and prior professional experience could stabilize a defense corps.

For Winnipeg, the placement is largely procedural: it creates roster flexibility after the Hellebuyck deal while keeping a serviceable depth defender within the organization.

Whether St. Ivany eventually resurfaces in the NHL this season will depend on injuries or performance elsewhere on the Jets’ blue line, but for now his immediate future appears to lie in the minors.