Zhilkin, He stand tall in Jets pre-season opener

When you’re in the group of players that isn’t completely sure how many chances you’re going to get to catch the attention of the coaching staff and the management team, it’s critical to strike early.

Enter Danny Zhilkin, a Winnipeg Jets forward prospect whose development had seemingly stalled during his first two professional seasons with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Now that he’s back to full health and spent the summer working on a number of areas of his game that were relayed to him in discussions with various members of the organization, Zhilkin is off to a fantastic start.

After standing out as the Jets best player during the prospect tournament in Montreal last weekend, Zhilkin scored an impressive goal off the rush on a one-timer in a game his team eventually lost 3-2 in overtime to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday at Canada Life Centre.

“Whatever the reason, he’s done a fantastic job this summer and coming (in) prepared,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “He plays a lot of different kinds of roles. I’m not sure if he’s a penalty killer or a power play guy. He’s got some offence to him. He’s done a better job on his face-offs, he’s responsible at his end of the rink. Another guy where we’re seeing growth. “That’s what you want with your young guys. You want to see them mature. Sometimes it takes guys a couple of years to find it. Some guys get it quicker than others. He really has opened up a lot of eyes for guys.”

Given the organziational depth the Jets added during the off-season, the deck might be stacked against Zhilkin making the team out of training camp but if he can keep up this level of play, it’s apparent he could work his way into the discussion of being a recall candidate.

Let’s take a closer look at what unfolded in what will be the first of six exhibition contests for the Jets:

THE WHEELS – Speaking of players continuing to progress, Jets forward prospect Kevin He was quite noticeable, thanks in part to his explosive skating.

Much like he did last fall when he suited up in his first NHL exhibition game, He used his wheels on multiple occasions to make life difficult on his opponent.

“Obviously, he can burn,” said Arniel, noting that He added 10 or 12 pounds of muscle from last year’s training camp to this one. “Last year, but he looked light. He looked like a guy who was at his first camp. (On Sunday), He ran into some people, he made a great play on the goal, he was a little bit more responsible without the puck. He’s a kid that went back and had a really good year in the Ontario Hockey League.

“You love to see guys grow and progress each year. That’s what he’s done.”

He got on the scoresheet with a nifty drop pass to Zhilkin, who buried his shot to make it 2-0 for the Jets.

Jets defenceman Colin Miller got the play started with a clean zone exit to Sam Fagemo, who found He with a cross-ice stretch pass that allowed him to attack the offensive zone with speed.

As the Wild defenceman tried to force He into a mistake, he identified that Zhilkin had joined him on the rush as the trailer and calmly left the puck for him to one-time the puck home at 8:02 of the first period.

Zhilkin conceded that he was vocal in letting He know he was open on the play.

“Yeah, I was screaming his name, I really wanted that puck,” said Zhilkin, chosen by the Jets in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft. “Hard work is paying off. I just have to continue to do my best and hopefully, try to turn heads here and keep going.”

Although He was given a penalty for hooking during the first period, he showed great hustle on the back check on the play.

But as He went to lift the stick of Wild forward Adam Benak, he caught his hands – which led to the infraction being called.

Given how much depth the Jets have at forward and considering He isn’t eligible to be sent to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, the idea for the 2024 fourth-rounder is to try to keep earning extra looks to delay his return to the Ontario Hockey League as long as possible.

THE REMOVAL – Jets forward prospect Brad Lambert was on the ice ready to try to deliver on the power play after a penalty he had drawn with an explosive rush on the first shift of the three-on-three overtime that ended with him crashing into Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt after he was tripped by defenceman David Jiricek.

But after one of the referees made his way over to the Jets bench, he informed Arniel that Lambert had to be removed at the prompting of the concussion spotter.

“He stayed on his hands and knees a little bit too long I guess,” said Arniel. “I just got told and he has to come out. I don’t know anything on him yet. I’ll probably know in the next day or so.”

Lambert, who was used at right wing on a line with Brayden Yager and Phil Di Giuseppe, finished the game with two shots on goal and two hits in just more than 17 minutes of ice time.

Lambert is one of the young players trying to force his way onto the Jets’ roster by utilizing his speed and showcasing his skill.

Earlier in the contest, Lambert was hit hard behind the net in the offensive zone by veteran blue-liner Jack Johnson, who is in Wild camp on a pro tryout offer.

THE HITS – If you thought this would just be a sleepy exhibition game, Wild forward Yakov Trenin took an early run at Jets defenceman Logan Stanley on the forecheck on one of the first shifts of the contest.

Stanley went right back at Trenin and caught him with a cross check, letting the Wild winger know he didn’t appreciate it very much.

Jets blue-liner Tyrel Bauer connected with a heavy hit on Wild forward Lirim Amidovski, while Bauer was on the receiving end from a hard check from Hunter Haight.

THE KEY PLAY

Wild forward Yakov Trenin finds a loose puck in front of the Jets net and buries his shot for his second goal of the contest with 61 seconds to go in overtime.

THE THREE STARS

Wild F Yakov Trenin: Scores twice, including the overtime winner.

Jets F Samuel Fagemo: Chips in a pair of assists, records three shots on goal.

Jets F Kevin He: Supplies a sweet drop pass for an assist, uses his speed effectively.

EXTRA, EXTRA – Morgan Barron notched a power-play marker for the Jets’ other goal, providing a screen on a point shot by Elias Salomonsson before finding the rebound in front… Jets forward prospect Nikita Chibrikov had three shots on goal, seven shot attempts, four hits and one blocked shot… The Jets will be back in action on Tuesday when they host the Edmonton Oilers. Over the course of the weekend, Arniel announced that Winnipegger Jonathan Toews would be making his exhibition game debut on Tuesday against the Oilers.

ken.wiebe@freepress.com

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld