3 Winnipeg Jets Prospects Who Could Play Their First NHL Game in 22-23
The Winnipeg Jets have a number of top prospects currently playing in the AHL. Here are 3 players who could make their NHL debuts this year.
In the first couple of weeks of the 2022-2023 NHL season, we have seen some top prospects start well for their respective teams.
Out of the 2022 NHL draft class, only two players have made their NHL debuts this season. Those players are Juraj Slafkovsky and Shane Wright.
As you look through each recent draft class more players from that respective draft are appearing in the NHL. The 2020 draft year currently has 20 active NHL players, while the 2021 draft year has nine players currently playing in the NHL.
While looking at these stats, it made me ask the question of which prospects from the Winnipeg Jets franchise could make their NHL debuts during this 2022-2023 regular season.
Here are three Winnipeg Jets prospects who could make their NHL debuts during this season:
3. Chaz Lucius
The Winnipeg Jets’ 2021 first-round draft choice caught some by surprise when he left the University of Minnesota after one year and signed an entry-level deal with the Jets.
The now nineteen-year-old had nine goals and ten assists in 24 games with the Golden Gophers last year and missed some time due to injury.
So far this season, Lucius has one goal in his first three AHL games played. The Lawrence, Kansas native also has eight shots in those games including five shots in his AHL debut.
One thing that has been apparent regarding the Jets this season is their inability to score goals. There is an argument that the Jets lack pure goalscorers in their bottom three lines.
Lucius is known for his outstanding release and shot and good fit well on the Jets’ second or third lines.
2. Oskari Salminen
Salminen is a name that may not be familiar to most Jets supporters. Salminen is an undrafted goaltender from Finland, who the Jets signed this past offseason to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $925,000 at the NHL level and a minors salary of $80,000.
With David Rittich signing with the Jets in July, many believed that Salminen would get the least amount of playing time among Moose goaltenders in a trio with Mikhail Berdin and Arvid Holm.
During this past training camp Berdin, who led the 2021-2022 Moose goaltenders in games played, entered the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program and was ruled ineligible for this season. He then subsequently signed with a KHL team in Russia.
Therefore, the Moose went from an expected trio of goaltenders to a tandem of Holm and Berdin. Although the Moose are only four games into their season, Salminen has been one of the stars of the team.
The six-foot-five-inch, twenty-three-year-old has started two games and has a 1.00 goals against average and an .961 save percentage. Salminen is currently tied for the lead in the AHL lead in lowest goals against average and he also has the second-lowest save percentage in the league.
If there is a point of the season when Jets’ goaltenders face any injury troubles, Salminen provides the Jets with an interesting option in net.
1. Brad Lambert
The eighteen-year-old, Lambert has caused much excitement around Winnipeg Jets country. The 2022 30th overall draft selection had an outstanding training camp and preseason, but he was ultimately released to the Moose. A few days later, he signed an entry-level contract with the Jets.
So far this season, Lambert has appeared in three out of the Moose’s four games. He did not play in the Moose’s win this past Friday against Chicago. In his three games, the Finnish forward has two goals, four penalty minutes, and an even plus/minus.
For the same reason as Lucius, Lambert can provide some dynamic offensive talent to the Jets. He can provide great speed to whatever line the Jets put him on and the young forward can provide the Jets with a much needed offensive boost.
If the Jets continue their goal scoring woes, Lambert could be part of the solution to solve the Jets’ problem.
Want your voice heard? Join the Jets White Out team!
To keep track of all of Winnipeg’s prospects who are currently playing for the Manitoba Moose, check back to our site every Monday for our “Manitoba Moose Mondays” articles. During this weekly article, we recap the games during the past week for the Moose and highlight the top performers.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Is there one player that you think should be in the Winnipeg Jets lineup rather than playing for the Manitoba Moose? Leave your comments below!
dark. Next. NHL Reverse Retro Tiers: Winnipeg Jets, Canucks Among Improved Renditions