Three NCAA captains playing with Manitoba Moose

Winnipeg is quickly becoming a hockey haven for college captains.

Lucas Wahlin, Davis Burnside and Lukas Gustafsson all wore letters for their respective NCAA programs this past season. Now, the undrafted trio will finish the year with the Manitoba Moose.

Burnside and Gustafsson signed one-year American Hockey League deals for 2026-27 on Thursday, along with professional tryouts that allow them to join the Moose immediately. Wahlin inked a one-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets last week, along with an amateur tryout that also takes effect right away.

So, does the organization have a type?

Winnipeg has gone this route before, signing players like Brandon Tanev (Providence), Jeff Malott (Cornell) and Parker Ford (Providence) as undrafted free agents. All three worked their way through the Moose and are now NHL players. Malott and Ford were captains at the NCAA level, as was current Moose defenceman Dylan Anhorn (St. Cloud State).

It’s a strategy that makes plenty of sense.

The Jets have moved out significant draft capital in recent years to acquire immediate help. Targeting undrafted college free agents offers a low-risk, potentially high-reward way to replenish the prospect pipeline — often with players who bring maturity, leadership and a proven competitive edge.

There’s little doubt this latest group fits that mold.

Burnside, 22, recorded 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 37 games with Ohio State this season. The 6-foot, 185-pound right-shot forward from Illinois finished his NCAA career with 112 points (49 goals, 63 assists) in 155 games. He previously played in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm, Des Moines Buccaneers and Dubuque Fighting Saints.

“Just excited to be here and get going,” he told reporters following Thursday’s Moose practice at the downtown rink. “I think Ohio State did a really good job preparing me for this next level.”

Burnside described himself as a “high-energy player, playmaker, not afraid to get into the dirty areas. I’m not the biggest guy, but I like to use my speed and make plays off the rush.”

Gustafsson, 23, had 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 36 games with a Boston College that had their championship dreams come to an unexpectedly early end. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound left-shot defenceman from Georgia totaled 72 points (14 goals, 58 assists) in 147 NCAA games. He also won a USHL championship with the Chicago Steel in 2021.

“Things happened fast and got a good opportunity to come here. I’m very excited. The boys have been very welcoming.”

“Obviously it wasn’t the end of the season that we wanted. We had high hopes, we had a good team,” Gustafsson told reporters. “Things happened fast and got a good opportunity to come here. I’m very excited. The boys have been very welcoming.”

Gustafsson described himself as “an offensive defenceman. I like to make plays, but also reliable on the defensive side. Not the tallest defenceman, but like to play hard, like to play physical. Just make simple plays, get up the ice, join the play. Hopefully score a few goals here and there.”

Wahlin, 24, produced 39 points (21 goals, 18 assists) in 36 games with the University of St. Thomas. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound right-shot forward from Minnesota finished with 131 points (56 goals, 75 assists) in 137 NCAA games. He was recently named the CCHA Student-Athlete of the Year and Defensive Forward of the Year.

“It was definitely a long process. Kind of waited, talked to a bunch of teams, talked to my family and kind of figured what was the best opportunity and the best decision for my future. It ended up being Winnipeg,” Wahlin told reporters.

Wahlin described himself as “a hard-working, two-way forward that’s not afraid to provide some offence. Get gritty in the corners and get physical.”

All three arrive as the Moose enter the stretch drive, looking to lock down a playoff spot.

Manitoba (31-26-6) sits fourth in the Central Division with nine games remaining. The club opens a six-game homestand Friday afternoon at Canada Life Centre against the first-place Grand Rapids Griffins (47-13-5).

The Moose roster has been thinned in recent weeks, with Ford, Brad Lambert, Danny Zhilkin and Elias Salomonsson all earning call-ups to the Jets. Forward David Gustafsson (injury) and defenceman Alfons Freij (illness) — who recently arrived from Sweden — are also sidelined.

“Obviously they’ve done the right things so far this year to put themselves in a position to be in a playoff spot. I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win,” said Burnside.

www.winnipegfreepress.com/mikemcintyre