Three NCAA captains playing with Manitoba Moose

Lucas Wahlin, Davis Burnside and Lukas Gustafsson all wore letters for their respective NCAA programs this past season. Now, the undrafted trio will finish the year with the Manitoba Moose.

‘I really believe I’m an NHL player’: Rosen ready for takeoff with Jets

Isak Rosen didn’t see it coming.

The Swedish forward found himself on an American Hockey League road trip with the Rochester Americans when news of a pending trade popped up on his phone.

“I was in Laval, kind of asleep actually, and then a friend texted and called me and said ‘I think you’re going, there’s been a lot of rumours,’” Rosen said after taking the morning skate with the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. “Five minutes later, I get a call. So, it was late Thursday night. It was a weird feeling, at first, but I’m super excited to be here.”

Rosen admitted he hadn’t heard anything about the prospect of being on the move in the days leading up to the NHL trade deadline.

Strathclair’s Geekie suits up for Tampa Bay in clash against Jets

Conor Geekie feels the difference, even if it’s not quite as noticeable to the casual viewer.

The Strathclair product has been told so many times about the need to work on his skating that he almost became numb to it.

But after his work with Barb Underhill since going to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a trade with the Utah Mammoth, let’s just say the results speak for themselves, even if the process is ongoing.

“Honestly, it’s with the straight-line skating,” Geekie said after the morning skate before the Lightning faced the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday at Canada Life Centre. “I’m always in the play now, I’m not necessarily behind or in front (of it), if that makes sense.”

Samberg pays it forward to Salomonsson

TAMPA, Fla. — It wasn’t all that long ago when the proverbial skate was on the other foot for Dylan Samberg.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman could only smile and chuckle when asked about the idea of serving as a mentor for top prospect Elias Salomonsson after the morning skate and prior to taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

“It’s weird. I was in his shoes a few years ago,” said Samberg, who turned 27 last week. “Now to be called a mentor is a little bit different. It makes me feel old. It’s good. I’m just trying to help him as much as possible and trying to make sure he has fun while he’s doing it.”

The fun factor has been apparent for both Samberg and Salomonsson of late, as the duo has been seeing plenty of high-leverage minutes against the most skilled forwards of the opponents in recent games.

Zhilkin fired up to face Oilers in NHL debut

The topic nearly brings a tear to the eyes of Danny Zhilkin and it’s easy to understand why, once you peel off a few layers of his back story.

Making sacrifices are an essential part of the long and winding journey for every player that realizes the dream of making it to the NHL, but it doesn’t often include moving to a foreign land at a young age just to enhance your opportunity.

That’s part of why Zhilkin couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he prepared to make his NHL debut for the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Zhilkin was recalled from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League on Monday and the first call he made after hearing the news was to his parents.

Jets call up DiVincentiis to play in The Show

Domenic DiVincentiis emerged from the coach’s office on Sunday night with some unexpected news that required further attention.

The Manitoba Moose goaltender had just been told by head coach Mark Morrison that his services were required elsewhere.

You’re going to The Show.

They are the words every prospect is waiting to hear, the stuff dreams are made of.

Jets’ Di Giuseppe jumped at opportunity to sign with team

Phil Di Giuseppe had to wait a dozen seasons as a pro hockey player before experiencing what it was like to finally reach the top of the mountain.

Yager firmly settled in for next chapter of hockey journey

Brayden Yager is set to be a sponge. As the Winnipeg Jets top forward prospect prepares for his second training camp since he was acquired in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins for Rutger McGroarty in August 2024, Yager knows that he’s going to be cutting his teeth in the professional ranks this season.

Driedger brings depth to hometown team

LAS VEGAS — Chris Driedger is quick to admit he was a little bit surprised to see the number for Roberto Luongo pop up on his phone on the day of the NHL trade deadline.

The veteran netminder had just been reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League by the Florida Panthers, but this wasn’t a social call from Luongo, the Hall of Fame goalie who is now a special advisor to general manager Bill Zito.

Driedger was on the move again, this time to his hometown as the Winnipeg Jets had acquired him as goaltending insurance in a deal for Kaapo Kahkonen.

“It came as a surprise,” Driedger said in an interview earlier this week. “It was kind of a whirlwind, for sure. It took me a minute to process and then, it was exciting. To come back to Winnipeg and come back home. An exciting opportunity, too.”

Salomonsson turning heads with Moose

There has not been a ton of positive news coming out of the Manitoba Moose this season. Elias Salomonsson would be a notable exception.

The 20-year-old defenceman from Sweden is enjoying a successful rookie year, even if it included a nearly two-month absence after suffering a right shoulder injury when he was on the receiving end of a big hit during a Dec. 6 game against Belleville.

Now back to full health, Salomonsson had two assists on Sunday afternoon in a 7-2 victory over the Iowa Wild and showed why he is viewed as the best blue-line prospect currently in the Winnipeg Jets pipeline.

“It was a long time to be sidelined,” Salomonsson told the Free Press following the game. “But I’m happy to be back and getting back up to pace. Feeling better and better.”