Influx of young talent gives Jets a noticeable boost

A weekly lap around the NHL by Free Press hockey writers Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre

The paths couldn’t have been more different, even if the destination ended up being the same.

Viggo Bjorck is the can’t-miss prospect — a Top-10 pick with a clear path to The Show. Though it’s evident he hasn’t taken a single step in this process for granted.

Tyrel Bauer is the rough-and-tumble long shot, a sixth-round pick whose uphill battle to graduate to the highest level has featured a ton of scar tissue, both literally and metaphorically.

In a season of renewed optimism for the Winnipeg Jets, it seemed fitting that both of these players made their respective NHL debuts on Friday night against the Boston Bruins.

So, how did the players plan on deciding who would go first for the rookie hot lap ritual? Might it be a quick game of rock, paper, scissors?

“I’m not going to fight him for it, so I guess he’ll decide,” Bjorck cracked on Friday after the morning skate.

The challenge for the Jets coaching staff will be attempting to thread the needle between providing enough leeway to grow the forward into the second-line centre job, while not thrusting an inordinate amount of pressure onto an 18-year-old playing his first season in North America.

Bjorck brings a level of enthusiasm to the rink that is infectious. But he’s prepared for the magical moment, while recognizing he’s got so much more to learn to get to where he wants to be as a player.

And he isn’t scared of the stage, even if he’s doing his best to just fit in and show that he belongs.

After grabbing dinner with his parents, Bjorck spent Thursday night watching a pair of former Swedish linemates — Anton Frondell of the Chicago Blackhawks and Ivar Stenberg of the San Jose Sharks — suit up in NHL games.

Bjorck was asked to assess where his game was at following his first NHL training camp and he provided a standard response.

“I mean, you’re trying to improve everything all the time,” said Bjorck, who got a bit more specific after some prodding about him stickhandling around the question.

“I know, but it’s true. I guess face-offs are one thing that I worked on a lot last year. There’s going to be a big bump-up as well this year. But that is one thing. And it’s a different thing with time and space here (compared to international ice he played on in Sweden), so it’s just (about) getting comfortable with that and to keep on working on it.”

Bjorck’s defensive awareness should allow him to earn the trust of the coaching staff and one of the questions left to be answered revolves around how much offence he might produce as a rookie.

It’s a complex question, though skating alongside Gabriel Vilardi will certainly help his chances of eclipsing 30 points and pushing for 40.

As a point of reference, just last season Ben Kindel of the Pittsburgh Penguins had 17 goals and 35 points as an 18-year-old rookie.

Something in that range would be considered a success, though Bjorck’s play for Sweden at the world junior hockey championship last winter and world men’s hockey championship last spring suggest that putting a ceiling on him isn’t the best idea either.

Bauer didn’t try to hide his enthusiasm or gratitude when asked about what it was like to know he was set to play his first NHL game, which head coach Scott Arniel informed him he’d be suiting up for on Wednesday.

“No matter if you spent four years in the minors or if it’s your first year overseas, I think it’s still the same. You only get to play your first NHL game once,” said Bauer.

“The last few days have been some time for reflection. Just where you come from, where you’ve been, your minor hockey ranks. Just the stories and people you met along the way. It’s pretty cool. A special feeling. Pressure and nerves can be up, but just do your best to soak it in. It’s been a long ride. And there’s a lot more to go.”

Bauer’s journey includes a full MCL reconstruction during his time with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League and he’s played four full seasons with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Given the arduous road, it’s no surprise Bauer had around 25 friends and family members among the entourage in the stands on Friday.

“My parents, all my extended family, I have some buddies driving up, making the 13-hour trek to get here,” said Bauer. “Guys I’ve played with and known a long time. My billet family from Seattle is coming in, they live in Tucson now. And then, a few other people from around that I’ve got to know throughout the years.

“Knowing that they’re coming just means the world to me. There have been times when you’ve needed a lot of support, and those are the people that have always been there for me. They support you no matter what. Even when sometimes you don’t believe in yourself, they do.”

The Jets had two other forwards skating in their first NHL season openers on Friday, 2022 first-rounder Brad Lambert and Isak Rosen, who was chosen 14th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres.

At a time when the Jets are looking to rebound from a tough season, the influx of young talent has provided a noticeable boost.

“Just having that excitement, getting to see people experience achieving their dream, getting to play in the NHL, it’s so special,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “I still remember my first game down in Glendale. They were the Phoenix Coyotes at the time. Just getting to see them go out there, soak in the day, the nerves, the excitement, the energy.

“It’s awesome to inject that into the room. Everyone can feed off of it. Certainly they’ll be excited to get out there and I’m assuming they’ll have lots of friends and families. And that’s what it’s all about. Getting to share the day with the people that supported you along the way.”

 

Around the glass

Thrilling, high-scoring games. Highlight-reel plays. And even a goalie goal by Igor Shesterkin, the 21st in NHL history.

Yes, it’s been quite a start to the NHL season, with hopefully much more of that to come over the next six months.

Here are some fun facts and figures, provided earlier this week by the league.

• Bjorck and Bauer are joined by 18 other players who were set to make their NHL debuts. Bjorck is one of 12 teenagers on the list, and one of five 18-year-olds who were just selected in this summer’s draft (all in the first round).

• Of the 723 players on opening-night rosters, 306 (42.3 per cent) were Canadian, leading all nations. But the United States is closing the gap, with a record number of 192, which represents 26.6 per cent. Sweden (75 players) leads the way when it comes to the 31 per cent of players coming from outside North America.

• Want to feel old? A whopping 283 of them (39 per cent) were born in the 2000s, which is 61 more than a year ago. There are now 90 players in the league who were born after the league’s oldest player — Colorado defenceman Brent Burns — made his NHL debut in October 2003.

• Anaheim (26.3) and Chicago (26.4) have the NHL’s youngest rosters by average age. Los Angeles (31.3) and Florida (30.7) are the oldest. Winnipeg is tied for 14th-oldest — or tied for 18th-youngest if you prefer, at 28.6. They could get even more fresh-faced once 22-year-old defenceman Elias Salomonsson recovers from his current injury.

• Didn’t get drafted by a team? That’s not necessarily a big deal. There are 89 players who never heard their name called, which accounts for 12.3 per cent.

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