Crazy pace for Jets prospects

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This article was published 08/07/2023 (821 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Colby Barlow hasn’t had much of a chance to stop and catch his breath lately.

From the NHL scouting combine in Buffalo to the draft in Nashville to Jets development camp in Winnipeg, it’s been a whirlwind few weeks for the freshly minted 18th-overall pick.

“Pretty crazy, honestly,” Barlow said Saturday following the final on-ice session at the hockey for all centre.

Barlow, 18, plans to put his skates away at least for a few days as he now heads home to Orillia, Ontario to catch up with family. Then it will be back to training for an all-important next season which includes an expected return to junior and, hopefully, a spot on Canada’s World Junior team in December.

“That’s definitely the next short-term goal of mine,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been working for my entire life. Every kid that plays hockey wants to play in the World Juniors and play for their country.”

The emerging power forward tore up the Ontario Hockey League last year by scoring 46 goals and adding 33 assists in 59 games with the Owen Sound Attack. He also won the OHL scholastic player of the year award.

Barlow will be taking plenty of lessons with him from this past week in Winnipeg, where 27 young prospects (17 drafted by Winnipeg and another 10 on free agent invites) were given a crash course in what it takes to be a professional hockey player.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do this summer. It’s exciting work, though,” said Barlow. “Just push myself to be the best person and player that I can be.”

Barlow is among an intriguing group of forwards now in Winnipeg’s system which includes fellow first-rounders Rutger McGroarty (2022), Brad Lambert (2022) and Chaz Lucius (2021). They formed an instant bond with each other.

“It was awesome to experience that. Getting to talk to them and see how they go about their business every day,” he said.

“I think it’s cool just to see what they try to do and how I can implement some of those things into my own game. I think it’s also good to kind of compare yourself to them and see how much you need to get better, where you are kind of alike.”

Barlow is a very personable character who showed off a pretty wicked sense of wit when asked how Friday’s escape room team-building outing went for him.

“Ah, I just got out this morning,” he cracked. “No, it was good. We actually had the best time, our team. I wasn’t too much of a help. I’d be like ‘Oh yeah, that looks good boys, that’s an awesome clue right there.’ Just wander around, the next door would open and I’d walk right through.”

It was a similar mix of frantic fun for Zach Nehring, who was selected in the third-round of the draft last week in Nashville. The Minot, N.D. product had plenty of family with him in Music City, including his grandparents (who live in western Manitoba), his mother (who is originally from Winnipeg) and his twin sister.

The tight-knit clan then followed him to Winnipeg where they had a close-up view of development camp.

“It was awesome to be back in Winnipeg again. I hadn’t been here for a couple years,” said Nehring.

“It was an unbelievable experience. It was huge meeting with the guys. We had a lot of dinners, I think that helped out. Just the staff, everyone in the organization, it was great to talk to them and see what they’re all about. Everyone here is super nice, and it just feels like I belong here.”

Nehring, 18, played last year with Shattuck St. Mary’s and is headed to Sioux Falls of the USHL for the coming season.

“It’s going to be a tough league. I think the training this summer is going to help, and especially being here this week is huge,” he said.

Nehring is then committed to Western Michigan University for the 2024-25 campaign, although the Brandon Wheat Kings hold his WHL rights and would no doubt love to bring him into the fold. His ultimate goal, of course, is to eventually make his way back to Winnipeg as an NHL player.

“I think for me, it’s just filling out my frame and putting on some muscle,” said Nehring, who stands 6-3 and currently weighs 179 pounds.

“The USHL, and then college, it’s all going to be great because as you go up it’s just faster and stronger and more physical. I think it will help a lot to hopefully one day make an impact for the Jets.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg