3 Winnipeg Jets prospects primed for World Junior success

Winnipeg Jets: Chaz Lucius

Much like Lambert, Lucius is adjusting to his first season in the AHL. Now, he gets the chance to star for a talented USA team that currently has him centering the second line.

It’s been somewhat of a trial-by-fire season for Lucius, who missed a lot of time in his college season for the University of Minnesota. The Moose threw him into a big role early, and he’s run with it. Now, he plays a similar role with the US team and has a chance to be a huge contributor.

Lucius’s 2022-23 Season

Playing the bulk of his time as the second-line center, Lucius has done well to adjust to life in the AHL. That said, his season was interrupted by injuries that saw him sit out every game after November 26.

In his 12 games with the Moose, however, he recorded two goals and five points. While the point totals don’t stand out, his game is coming along and like Lambert, will benefit from an extended stay in the lineup. Once Lucius is healthy and back at full strength, he will be a handful for any team.

What to Expect

Lucius is penciled in as team USA’s second-line center alongside fellow Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty and Carolina Hurricanes fourth-round selection, Jackson Blake. With McGroarty and Blake, Lucius will be well-positioned to become the finisher on the line.

While both linemates do it very differently, they’re both playmakers who are incredibly talented at opening up space for their teammates. Blake is a talented puck-handler and passer who is able to slip passes through tight windows. We’ll talk more about McGroarty on the next slide, as we discover how talented that line can really be.