Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Winnipeg Jets started their second tour of duty in Winnipeg in 2011 with a very empty prospects cupboard with the Atlanta Thrashers trading away a lot of draft picks for players that didn’t make a difference and drafting players that in most cases didn’t have any business in the National Hockey League. Since 2011 the Winnipeg Jets brass have done a great job at filling the cupboard with great prospects that will in the very near future make a difference in the Jets lineup today we are continuing our series on the prospects you need to know with #19 Scott Kosmachuk.
Scott Kosmachuk has already had a great hockey career despite being only 22 years old, Kosmachuk played for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League and had a storied career which included an Ontario Hockey League championship in 2014 with Guelph. Kosmachuk also represented Canada at the U18 tournament that was not as successful playing in all 7 games and finished the tournament with 0 points.
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Kosmachuk excelled in the Ontario Hockey League however with his totals going up every year from 2010-14 starting with 21 points in 68 games in 2010 and finishing the 2014 season with 101 points in 68 games, that is a huge amount of growth for a young mans four year junior career. Kosmachuk continued to be a clutch player for the Storm in the 2014 playoffs with a further 28 points in 20 games and finishing with a respectable +22 rating.
Kosmachuk was drafted in 2012 by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round, 2012 was a pretty deep draft talent wise and in todays hockey world a third round draft pick has a great chance of making the NHL. Now the Winnipeg Jets have always sent their players back to their junior teams as the Winnipeg Jets are taking the same approach as the Detroit Red Wings and being patient with their prospects and not force them into the National Hockey League.
Kosmachuk aged out of the national junior ranks in 2014 and failed to make the Winnipeg Jets roster out of training camp and spend the season in the American Hockey League with the St Johns Ice Caps. Kosmachuk jumped into the Ice Caps line up and the same thing happened to Kosmachuk that happened to every other player that jumps from juniors to semi pro hockey, their production numbers fell. Kosmachuk was no different and played 70 games for the Ice Caps a
nd only ha 28 points which isn’t horrible.
Kosmachuk again in 2015 did not make the Jet roster out of training camp and is with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, Winnipeg’s farm club the former St Johns Ice Caps, Kosmachuk has only played 56 games this season and has been able to bring up his points total already sitting at 25 three short of last years total so Kosmachuk will surpass that mark this year.
Kosmachuk is a very energetic player and plays at full out speed every game and every shift, giving his coach all he has which ranks Kosmachuk high on the list of future Winnipeg Jets. Kosmachuk is smart offensively and can put points on the board he has some work to do on the defensive side of his game Kosmachuk isn’t horrible on defense he just needs to work harder at his defensive game. Kosmachuk only stands at 5’11 so a lot of scouts say his size could hold him back with it can but it also makes it harder for player to knock Kosmachuk of the puck.
Kosmachuk can make the National Hockey League as an everyday starter player it would be a long shot for Kosmachuk to crack the top six of any NHL team Kosmachuk could get a sniff at the Jets line up next season as a bottom six more then likely a bottom three and could be a fixture on the Jets fourth line of grinders. The Winnipeg Jets are known for giving the younger guys a chance and Kosmachuk will get that chance and will make the Winnipeg roster by the age of 25 so you will see him in a Manitoba Moose uniform for the next couple years.