MAILBAG CALLOUT
With the Winnipeg Jets season now complete, the monthly mailbag is open for a few more days here. Please send your questions to Mike and Ken by replying to this email or reaching out via social media.
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: One thing that has always puzzled me about this year’s Moose team is how all the scoring talent they would appear to have on paper hasn’t really translated on the ice.
Consider that journeyman Mason Shaw led the team in scoring with just 44 points, which put him in a tie for 90th in the league.
Is it systems? Too much focus on team defence? Stifling skill and creativity? I suspect all of this will eventually be under organizational review when the season comes to an end, as the Jets need to make sure their top prospects are being put in the best developmental situation.
“I think we had a ton of chances that just didn’t go in for us,” forward Danny Zhilkin told reporters of the Game 1 setback. “We have a really good team in that locker room and a big skill-set there. I think we’re going to have a better game tonight.”
Obviously, a quick two-and-out would be a terrible development for a team that has visions of a long playoff run.
Salomonsson might not help a ton in the offensive department — his priority is playing defence, of course — but he should make the Moose a much stingier squad when it comes to playing in their own end. This could be the final game of his AHL career, as I suspect Salomonsson is going to be a full-time NHLer starting this fall.
I was a bit surprised to see a crowd of only 3,126 at Wednesday’s game. I figured that with the Moose now being the only pro-hockey show in town and so many Jets prospects on the roster, a bigger turnout would have occurred.
Of course, the Moose only found out they were playing in this series a few days earlier, so there wasn’t a ton of lead-up time. Perhaps a Friday night game will bring a larger crowd.
KEN SAYS: The Moose piled up 43 shots on goal against Matthew Murray in Game 1, but they’re likely going to need to dent the twine more than once if they want to keep their season alive.
Colby Barlow set up Parker Ford with a nice pass for the lone goal scored by the Moose on Wednesday.
Barlow’s improved pace caught my attention and you can see how he found a way to be more productive during the stretch run.
Another Moose player that stood out was Lucas Wahlin, who was recently signed to a two-way, entry-level contract by the Jets that kicks in next season after serving as captain for St. Thomas of the NCAA.
Wahlin is a strong skater and he showed off his feisty nature on a number of opportunities, while also recording five shots on goal as he skated on a line with Brayden Yager and Brad Lambert.
Lambert had one of the best scoring chances of the game for either team, choosing to shoot on a two-on-one rush with Yager.
The decision was a wise one, as he got a wicked shot away that rattled off the crossbar.
On the back end, the Moose pairing of Tyrel Bauer and Isaak Phillips both threw several heavy checks in the contest.
Bauer was looking for a dance partner throughout the night, but had no takers, even though the Admirals have a number of players who like to mix things up.
It was impossible not to notice Admirals centre Brady Martin, as the fifth overall pick in the 2025 made an immediate impact in his first Calder Cup playoff game.
The big centre scored his first professional goal (in just his fourth pro game), using his skating ability and finishing ability to find a seam between a pair of Moose defenders before slipping a shot past Milic.
Martin suited up in three NHL games with the Nashville Predators before he was returned to the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Martin, who suited up for Team Canada at the world junior hockey championship this past winter, racked up three goals and 10 points in 10 playoff games with the Greyhounds before he was assigned to the Admirals.
PROJECTED LINES
(Remember, don’t get bogged down by the order; this is not a depth chart.)
MANITOBA MOOSE
FORWARDS
- Mason Shaw–David Gustafsson–Walker Duehr
- Jaret Anderson-Dolan–Danny Zhilkin–Sam Fagemo
- Brad Lambert–Brayden Yager–Lucas Wahlin
- Colby Barlow–Parker Ford–Phi Di Giuseppe
DEFENCE
- Isaak Phillips–Elias Salomonsson
- Dylan Anhorn– Kale Clague
- Ashton Sautner–Tyrel Bauer
GOAL
- Thomas Milic
- Dom DiVincentiis
MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS
FORWARDS
- Isaac Ratcliffe–Jake Lucchini–Cole O’Hara
- Zach L’Heureux–Reid Schaefer–Joakim Kemell
- Shawn Element-Brady Martin–Oasiz Wiesblatt
- Kalan Lind–Joey Willis–Ryder Rolston
DEFENCE
- Kevin Gravel–Ryan Ufko
- Jordan Oesterle–Andrew Gibson
- Tanner Molendyk-Christoffer Sedoff
GOAL
- Matthew Murray
- Magnus Chrona
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Manitoba Moose coach Mark Morrison on the value of having veteran forward Phil Di Giuseppe — who won the Calder Cup last year with Abbotsford — on his roster, especially with so many inexperienced players around him.
“Yeah, he’s already had some words. And he’s been vocal about some things that he’s learned over the years, especially with his club last year. He’s been very positive. I think when you have a presence like that from winning a championship, players listen. They probably listen to him more than they listen to me.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Mike will have a game analysis of Moose vs. Admirals. You can find it online and in Saturday’s print edition.
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