T-birds touch down with Jets

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This article was published 14/09/2023 (753 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Slowly but surely, the Seattle Thunderbirds are spreading their wings all over the Winnipeg Jets organization.

It started with defenceman Tyrel Bauer who was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft. It grew to include forward Brad Lambert after he was grabbed in the first round in 2022. And it has now expanded to goaltender Thomas Milic, taken in the fifth round mere months ago.

The trio of WHLers from the Emerald City will be teammates this weekend at the Young Stars Classic in Penticton, B.C. — they’ll play games on Friday, Sunday and Monday — before moving on to big-league training camp next week.

“It’s awesome showing up to a new place this year and having a couple familiar faces,” Milic, the newest ‘Bird on the block, said Thursday following a team skate at the hockey for all centre before the group headed to British Columbia.

“A lot of (Winnipeg) fans back in Seattle. Trending with the theme of birds flying, Jets flying. Let’s Fly was our motto in Seattle.”

Bauer, 21, spent last year as a rookie with the Manitoba Moose after aging out of junior, while Milic, 20, and Lambert, 19, helped lead the Thunderbirds to the WHL Championship and a spot in the Memorial Cup, where they ultimately lost to the Quebec Remparts in the final.

“I was pumped when (Milic) got drafted. He’s obviously an unbelievable goalie,” said Lambert. “It was great to play with him and he’s an even better guy. I’m happy to have him here, we get along well.”

While it’s a virtual lock that Bauer will be back with the Moose for a second season, things are a bit more cloudy when it comes to Lambert and Milic.

Lambert made a big first impression at his inaugural NHL training camp last fall and was certainly in the mix to make the opening-night roster. He was ultimately sent to the Moose, then to the WHL after playing in the World Junior Championship.

It’s no secret the Jets will be looking to fill the second-line centre vacated by Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings this summer. While Gabe Vilardi and Cole Perfetti are the likely front-runners, could Lambert make a strong push?

“Honestly I’m just trying to do what I can on the ice and not worry about it too much,” he said Thursday. “Just play my game and see where it takes me, really. You don’t want to overthink stuff.”

Lambert could be sent to the Moose, or even back to junior if the organization feels like it would benefit him.

“I’m just going to go out there and try to do the same thing I did last year. Try to earn myself a spot (with the Jets),” said Lambert, who spent six weeks this summer training in Toronto under former NHLer Gary Roberts.

Milic has aged out, meaning he’s turning pro this fall. An immediate spot with the Moose could be tough, considering Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit will be with the big club while Collin Delia and Oskari Salminen are the likely one-two punch on the farm.

That may mean Milic starts in Norfolk, W.V., where the Jets recently signed an ECHL affiliation with the Admirals.

“I’m just trying not to look too far ahead and just focus on this weekend and do whatever I can to help this team win,” said Milic, the reigning WHL goaltender of the year.

The Vancouver product will have plenty of family and friends coming to watch him in person as he splits netminder duties with Dominic DiVincentiis, the reigning Ontario Hockey League netminder of the year who was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft.

“It’s a pretty special thing to have two goalie-of-the-years in their respective leagues,” said Milic. “Dom and I have been super tight since we met. There’s definitely that good healthy competition between us, but we’re best friends off the ice.”

The Jets top prospects will play the rising stars of the Edmonton Oilers (Friday, 6 p.m. CT), Vancouver Canucks (Sunday, 4 p.m. CT) and Calgary Flames (Monday, noon CT). All games will be streamed live at www.winnipegjets.com.

Winnipeg was originally taking 23 skaters to Penticton, including 15 of the club’s draft picks, but added one more on Thursday in the form of forward Connor McClennon. The 21-year-old from Alberta starred with the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL last year (46 goals, 46 assists in 64 regular-season games) and recently signed a two-year AHL deal with the Chicago Wolves.

That doesn’t preclude McClennon from getting a look in an NHL organization (he was originally drafted by Philadelphia in 2020 but not signed). However, he wouldn’t be eligible to join the Moose unless he ultimately signs a two-way deal with the Jets.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg