Moose ready for extended runway on Jets’ roster Plenty of holes for top prospects to fill as season winds down By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 6:20 PM CDT Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026

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This article was published 10/03/2026 (226 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The time is now for Brad Lambert — and Isak Rosen, Elias Salomonsson and Ville Heinola, too.

The quartet of young skaters have all recently been summoned from the Manitoba Moose to finish the hockey season with the Winnipeg Jets in part of a concerted effort by the club to get a prolonged look at the team’s future.

“It’s awesome. That’s all you ever dreamed of, just getting that opportunity. Now it’s time to make the most of it,” Lambert said Tuesday, a few hours prior to suiting for just the 12th NHL game of his career as the Jets faced the Anaheim Ducks.

Lambert, the 30th-overall pick in the 2022 draft, has spent the bulk of his first three pro seasons honing his craft in the American Hockey League. The 22-year-old Finnish forward has 173 games with the Moose on his resumé, including 34 this year, and believes his all-around game is now better for it.

“The main thing for me was just continuing to work on my game, making sure that when I do get that next opportunity, I’m as ready as I can be. And I feel like I am,” he said.

Goals and assists and points are nice, and Lambert hopes they will eventually start coming in spades. He is an offence-first player, after all. But it’s the play without the puck, and in his own end of the ice, that will ultimately determine if he can stick at this level.

“Just taking every opportunity I can to earn the coach’s trust. And play a team game, play with the systems,” he said.

As a result of Neal Pionk, Colin Miller, Vlad Namestnikov and Nino Niederreiter sidelined with injuries, Lambert will get an extended runway over the final six weeks of the season to prove he belongs. He is trying to soak it all in, including extended on-ice chats and hot stove sessions with 37-year-old Jonathan Toews.

“I’ve been watching him since I was a little kid,” said Lambert, who spent much of his life growing up in Saskatchewan.

“To be able to be out there with him and sit next to him, pick his brain a little bit with everything he’s experienced, it’s a great learning opportunity.”

“To be able to be out there with him and sit next to him, pick his brain a little bit with everything he’s experienced, it’s a great learning opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Rosen, 22 (1st round, 2021), gets the opportunity to prove himself as the new kid on the block; while Salomonsson, 21 (2nd round, 2022), has already ingrained himself well in Winnipeg’s blue-line core; and Heinola, 25 (1st round, 2019), will get one last look before he’s expected to enter free agency this summer.

It’s possible the Jets could look to the Moose for an additional youth movement down the stretch, especially if they ultimately fall out of the playoff race and decide to get a bit of a head start on next season — with multiple players including Toews, Miller, Gustav Nyquist, Cole Koepke and Jacob Bryson all pending unrestricted free agents on July 1.

There will be plenty of holes to fill, either internally or through free agency or trades.

Our latest monthly prospect report looks at 21 other players in the pipeline — 10 currently with the Moose, five in junior, three in college and three in Europe.

AHL:

F DAVID GUSTAFSSON (2nd round, 2018): You wonder if the ship has sailed on Gustafsson, who is second on the Moose in scoring with 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) but hasn’t got a sniff from the big club. He’s a pending restricted free agent this summer, and you wonder if a change of scenery might be in the cards.

D TYREL BAUER (6th round, 2020): A heart-and-soul guy who Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff recently praised, saying the Jets would love to give him an NHL debut later this season. And the big club is suddenly lacking in toughness with Schenn and Stanley’s departures, so file this under the “likely” category.

F NIKITA CHIBRIKOV (2nd round, 2021): Chibrikov’s stock has fallen sharply since training camp with the Jets. He only has seven points (3G, 4A) in 36 games this year after posting 65 (24G, 41A) in 100 previous AHL games over the past two seasons.

F DANNY ZHILKIN (3rd round, 2022): Another guy who could be in line for a late-season call-up. Made his NHL debut earlier this year and opened plenty of eyes. Has 19 points (10G, 9A) in 45 AHL games.

F FABIAN WAGNER (6th round, 2022): Not much happening here with the forward, who has just one goal in 21 games and has been a healthy scratch at times on a deep Moose roster.

G DOM DIVINCENTIIS (7th round, 2022): He’s part of a strong one-two goaltending punch on the farm. DiVincentiis now has a 2.74 goals-against average and .907 save percentage along with two shutouts in 26 games.

F COLBY BARLOW (1st round, 2023): The offence hasn’t come easy with just eight points (3G, 5A) through 44 games. Clearly a longer-term project here that is going to require much more seasoning.

F BRAYDEN YAGER (1st round, 2023): The only player on this list not actually drafted by the Jets, but we include him because of the high-profile trade with Pittsburgh for 2022 first-rounder Rutger McGroarty. Yager is having a decent rookie season with 20 points (8G, 12A) in 51 games.

G THOMAS MILIC (5th round, 2023): The other half of the dynamic duo in net, with a 2.49 GAA and .907 SV% through 25 games.

F JACOB JULIEN (5th round, 2023): A training camp injury delayed his pro debut which eventually came at the ECHL level, but he’s now played 13 games with the Moose and has three assists so far.

OHL:

F KEVIN HE (4th round, 2024): The captain of the Niagara IceDogs was traded mid-season to the Flint Firebirds, who are loading up for a potential Memorial Cup run. He has 39 points (21G, 18A) in 27 games with the new club and 70 points (35 G, 35G) in 55 overall games this season, which has him 14th in OHL scoring.

F KIERON WALTON (6th round, 2024): An incredible year for the power forward, who is fifth in OHL scoring with 83 points (37G, 46A) in games with the Peterborough Petes (his current team) and Sudbury Wolves (who traded him).

D EDISON ENGLE (6th round, 2025): The Illinois teen is an offensive defenceman who got off to a sizzling start but has really cooled off. He has 27 points (3G, 25A) in 55 games for the Brantford Bulldogs. He’s expected to head to college next year.

F JACOB CLOUTIER (7th round, 2025): Cloutier continues to have a strong second half and is up to 41 points (18G, 23A) in 59 games with the Saginaw Spirit, which is six back of the career high he set last season.

WHL:

F OWEN MARTIN (3rd round, 2025): The Oakbank product is scorching hot, now with 48 points (22G, 26A) in 59 games with the Spokane Chiefs. That’s double what he had as a rookie.

NCAA:

D GARRETT BROWN (4th round, 2022): He’s a key part of a powerful University of Denver club and has set a new career high with nine points (2G, 7A) through 29 games.

F ZACH NEHRING (3rd round, 2023): The offence has slowed down a bit for Nehring, who was part of the Frozen Four Western Michigan University championship team a year ago. The North Dakotan has 17 points (5G, 12A) in 32 games so far this year after putting up 30 points (13G, 17A) in 42 games a year ago.

D SASCHA BOUMEDIENNE (1st round, 2025): The 19-year-old, who helped lead Sweden to World Junior gold, is having a great sophomore season in college despite still being one of the youngest players. He has 10 points (2G, 8A) in 33 games with Boston University this year.

EUROPE:

D ALFONS FREIJ (2nd round, 2024): The gold-medal teammate of Boumedienne’s is having success with Timra IK of the top Swedish men’s league this season. He has 10 points (6G, 4A) through 40 games.

F MARKUS LOPONEN (5th round, 2024): The 19-year-old Finn left home last year to play in the WHL, putting up a solid 44 points (19G, 25A) in 65 games with the Victoria Royals. He’s now back home, suiting up with two different teams in SM-Liiga where he has five points (2G, 3A) in 41 games.

F VIKTOR KLINGSELL (5th round, 2025): He ripped up the Swedish junior league with 43 points (17G, 26A) in 25 games, had one goal in 12 games following a call-up to the the top men’s league, and is now in Sweden’s 1st Division league where he has seven points (1G, 6A) in eight games with Ostersunds IK.

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