Yager makes amazing first impression

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This article was published 11/09/2024 (385 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brayden Yager wasted no time making a positive impression.

The 19-year-old forward, acquired by the Winnipeg Jets last month in a trade, stepped on to the ice at the Hockey For All Centre on Wednesday for his first official practice. Moments later, he scored a highlight-reel goal during a drill that had the crowd on hand oohing and aahing, burying a puck just under the crossbar from a seemingly impossible spot.

Ho-hum. All in a day’s work, the Saskatoon product would later explain.

“You work a lot on skills throughout the summer. You’re always shooting pucks, especially as a forward, from different areas,” Yager told a media horde with a slight smirk on his face.

It was easy to see why the Jets are so high on Yager, the 14th-overall pick from 2023 who helped lead the Moose Jaw Warriors to a WHL championship and an appearance in the Memorial Cup last spring. He’s the return for disgruntled forward Rutger McGroarty, who went the other way to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Yager will now try to take that kind of show on the road as he laces up the skates in the annual Young Stars Classic in Penticton, B.C. The Jets prospects will take on their peers from the Calgary Flames (Friday, 6 p.m.), Vancouver Canucks (Sunday, 4 p.m.) and Edmonton Oilers (Monday, 1 p.m.).

“I think its a good opportunity for us young guys to showcase our skill,” said Yager. “And I think it gives a bit of an advantage coming into camp, getting a little bit more into shape. There’s nothing quite like game shape.”

Based on line rushes Wednesday, Yager will start at centre between wingers Nikita Chibrikov and Jacob Julien.

“Obviously I want to come here and start to gel with the players I’m playing with. Getting comfortable with everyone is kind of the main thing,” he said.

Yager is currently roommates with Brad Lambert, who will centre another top offensive line between Colby Barlow and Kevin He. When full Jets camp begins next Thursday, Yager and Lambert will definitely be in the mix for Winnipeg’s second-line centre spot, which appears to be wide open.

“Every time you step on the ice you try to be the best you can,” Lambert said of the opportunity ahead and trying to make the most of what will be his third Young Stars tournament.

Jets No. 1 centre Mark Scheifele said earlier this week he’s most excited about seeing young players like “Lambo” competing to make the big club this year. Lambert, who was born in Finland but raised in Saskatoon, had 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists) in 64 games with the Manitoba Moose last season as a rookie.

“That’s unbelievable. One of the great players in this organization. I’ve followed him since I was a little kid. For him to say something like that, it’s super exciting,” said Lambert.

“But at the same time, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. Just take it a day at a time. Do the Young Stars thing first, then go to training camp and work my (expletive) off and we’ll see what happens.”

“I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. Just take it a day at a time. Do the Young Stars thing first, then go to training camp and work my (expletive) off and we’ll see what happens.”–Brad Lambert

Lambert was thrilled to add Yager to the prospect pool, describing him as “a great guy… I love him.”

“We’ve bonded pretty quick. Obviously I knew him a little bit from back in Saskatoon,” said Lambert, who spent the summer working out with former NHLer Gary Roberts in Toronto and said he put on about eight pounds of muscle.

“When I’ve been skating, I’ve felt stronger,” said Lambert, who along with Chibrikov made his NHL debut the Jets final regular-season game of last season.

Yager, Lambert and Chibrikov are at the top of the list of players to keep a close eye on, but there are others, too.

Winnipeg’s 26-man roster includes first-rounders Barlow and Chaz Lucius, who skated Wednesday in a yellow no-contact jersey. He’s still recovering from ankle surgery and won’t play this weekend, but the hope is he’ll be ready by main camp next week.

“He hasn’t had the chance to get in any contact over the summer, so it’s just being very careful and very sure of him coming back at the right time,” said Moose coach Mark Morrison, who will run the Young Stars bench.

He was asked how close Lambert is to making the Jets.

“We’ll see. I’ve got my opinion on it, but I don’t want to throw it out there,” said Morrison. “I think that will happen with Arnie (Jets coach Scott Arniel) and Chevy (GM Kevin Cheveldayoff) and the group there. But Brad’s come a long ways.”

Another intriguing prospects is defenceman Elias Salomonsson, who is coming off a championship with his pro team in Sweden and now will begin his North American career.

“It’s nice to get some games in, Of course you want to get as ready as you can for when main camp starts,” said Salomonsson, who was chosen in the second round of the 2022 draft.

“It’s nice to get some touches. I’m looking forward to it.”

Salomonsson was paired in drills Wednesday with Dylan Anhorn, who is signed to the Moose this coming season.

“He’s a fun guy. We’re actually roommates at the hotel. He’s been driving me back and forth to the rink. He’s a great guy and a great player, too,” he said.

Salomonsson is likely to start the year with the Moose, but he plans to make that decision as difficult as possible for Jets coaches.

“It’s up to me to show them I can play there. Just do my best,” he said. “I feel confident. I’m just going to do the best that I can. It’s up to me.”

With 16 healthy forwards and seven defenceman, Morrison said there will be concerted effort to ensure everyone plays at least one game. The two goaltenders, Thomas Milic and Domenic DiVincentiis, will also share duties.

“I know it’s early days and it’s their first skate in a long time, but we were all paying attention and interested to see the players that we haven’t seen,” he said.

“There’s a lot of different things coming at these kids right now as far as staff goes and systems go. They want to impress and they want to do well, so we’re trying to slow them down a little bit and make sure the execution is there, because they’re just so excited to get out there.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg