JetsNation’s top 5 Winnipeg Jets prospects post 2025 NHL draft

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It’s been a quiet week in information surrounding the Winnipeg Jets. The Manitoba Moose (the Jets AHL affiliate) made some signings to enhance their roster, however the Jets stay affected person because the league enters one of the vital uneventful weeks within the NHL low season. Earlier than the league begins ramping up for coaching camp in September, now is an efficient time to have a look at an up to date rating of the Jets high 5 prospects. Whereas not one of the 2025 draftees instantly slot into this record, there’s undoubtedly some potential for the latest members of the Jets group to make their approach up the rankings within the coming seasons. Right here’s my tackle the Jets high 5 prospects publish 2025 NHL draft, with a glance into their growth in 2024-25 and a sit up for the place they is likely to be taking part in within the 2025-26 season.

5. Nikita Chibrikov (RW)

Whereas he’s older than the remainder of the gamers talked about on this record, Chibrikov nonetheless deserves his spot at quantity 5. The 22-year previous Russian ahead had a really promising 2023-24 season with the Manitoba Moose, gathering 47 factors in 70 video games. After scoring a aim in his NHL debut on the finish of the 2023-24 common season, Chibrikov missed over half of the 2024-25 season with a lower-body damage. Regardless of a shortened season, Chibrikov remained pretty productive, gathering 18 factors in 30 video games with the Moose, and a pair of targets and an help in 4 video games with the Jets. The event of Chibrikov appears to nonetheless be trending in the best course, and he’ll be poised to have a giant season with the Moose in 2025-26 season. Chibrikov ought to be one of many first members of the Moose to earn a name as much as the Jets, and I’m hopeful he’ll get a great look with the Jets able that lets him showcase his offensive expertise.

4. Colby Barlow (LW)

One factor to contemplate in my rankings is how shut these 5 gamers are to being full time NHL gamers. Colby Barlow performs the kind of recreation that may simply translate to the NHL. Though he’s not the quickest participant on the ice, Barlow is a scoring “energy ahead” who excels in being a bodily mature participant. Barlow received a fast look within the AHL with the Manitoba Moose on the finish of the 2023-24 season, the place he collected 3 factors in 3 video games. This season, with the Oshawa Generals within the OHL, Barlow had a really strong season, scoring 32 targets whereas including 29 assists for 61 factors in 62 video games. Barlow actually stood out within the OHL playoffs, gathering 33 factors in 21 video games for the Generals earlier than they misplaced to the eventual Memorial Cup Champions – the London Knights. Barlow is now 20 years previous, making him eligible to make the transition to his first full season in professional hockey, the place he will likely be trying to do a lot of what he’s proven within the OHL with the Manitoba Moose.

3. Brayden Yager (C)

Most Jets followers keep in mind the “blockbuster” prospect commerce to amass Brayden Yager. The deal despatched former Jets high prospect Rutger McGroarty to the Penguins. Whereas McGroarty received some restricted taking part in time with the Penguins final season, the Jets proceed to watch Yager as a future 2nd line centre. Yager, similar to Colby Barlow, discovered himself on a brand new WHL crew for his remaining season in junior hockey, with a blockbuster commerce deadline transfer that despatched him from the Moose Jaw Warriors to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. It took Yager a little bit of time to regulate to his new crew, however he shortly regained his scoring kind. In 33 video games with Lethbridge, Yager scored 14 targets and added 38 assists for 52 factors. The 20-year previous from Saskatoon will likely be headed for his first season of professional hockey with the Manitoba Moose, the place he’ll look to assist a crew that completed thirty first within the AHL standings final season. There’s a small probability Yager may make his NHL debut in some unspecified time in the future within the 2025-26 season, however even when he doesn’t, he appears to be on the best path to changing into a future key member of the Jets.

2. Brad Lambert (C)

A prospect that was at one level the primary Jets prospects finds himself on the quantity two spot. Lambert took a slight step again final season, and followers proceed to surprise when the Jets will give the centre from Finland an actual probability within the NHL. After a terrific first full professional season with the Moose in 2023-24 (55 factors in 64 video games), Lambert couldn’t replicate that success with the Moose final season. In 61 video games, Lambert scored solely 7 targets and added 28 assists for 35 factors. A few of Lambert’s struggles do relate to the truth that the Moose had been a backside 5 AHL crew final season, however it simply wasn’t the identical Lambert followers had been used to seeing the prior season. Lambert received to play 5 video games with the Jets this season, however he was normally positioned in a “sheltered” function, and he solely collected 1 help in these 5 video games. Jets followers shouldn’t start to panic that Lambert is “trending the flawed approach” simply but, and I feel that Lambert will get extra video games within the NHL within the 2025-26 season in a spot that lets him excel in what he’s greatest at, which incorporates his sturdy skating skills and play making in a high six function.

1. Elias Salomonsson (RD)

The “new” primary prospect within the Winnipeg Jets group is Elias Salomonsson. The 20-year previous Swedish proper handed defender has risen from a promising prospect within the Jets group to probably the subsequent Jets prospect to make a full time influence within the NHL. After concluding a powerful remaining season within the Swedish Hockey League in 2023-24, Salomonsson made the transfer to North America for his first season of professional hockey with the Manitoba Moose. In 53 video games, Salomonsson scored 5 targets and added 22 assists for 27 factors. Salomonsson was an essential member of the Moose final season, and regardless of the crew’s struggles, Salomonsson appeared like he was getting nearer to having the ability to make the leap to the NHL. The Jets present proper facet might already set for subsequent season, with Dylan DeMelo, Neal Pionk and Luke Schenn trying to be the Jets proper handed defencemen. If Salomonsson has a powerful coaching camp, he may discover his approach into the Jets opening night time roster, however it’s doubtless that he’ll take his time and proceed his optimistic growth within the AHL subsequent season, with a powerful chance of being one of many first gamers to be known as up on the blue line. Salomonsson’s noticeable enhancements didn’t come “out of no the place”, however he went from a great Jets prospect to probably “the man” to look at for within the upcoming hockey season.

Honourable Mentions

There’s a number of different Jets prospects which have trended in the best course within the 2024-25 season. Zach Nehring is a 6’5″ proper wing who stood out for Western Michigan College, gathering 30 factors in 42 video games. One other tall Jets prospect, Kieron Walton (6’6″), is a sixth spherical decide from 2024 who actually impressed within the juniors final season with the Sudbury Wolves. In 66 video games, Walton scored 38 targets and added 54 assists for 92 factors. Additionally within the OHL final season was Kevin He, the Jets 4th spherical decide from the 2024 draft. In 62 video games, He scored 36 targets and added 39 assists for 75 factors. On the blue line, Alfons Freij and newly drafted Sascha Boumedienne will look to “develop” and stand out extra of their respective leagues within the 2025-26 season as they proceed to develop.

PRESENTED BY PRAIRIE TOYOTA DEALERS 

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