Jets prospects report: Zhilkin makes case for spot on fourth line since call-up

There haven’t been a lot of draft-and-develop success stories in recent years for the Winnipeg Jets, with trades and free agent signings the more familiar route to filling out a roster that is supposed to be in “win-now” mode.

So the promotion last week of Danny Zhilkin from the Manitoba Moose, coupled with strong play in his first three NHL games, is certainly something for the organization to celebrate.

The 22-year-old, selected in the third round of the 2022 draft, leads off our latest monthly rundown of Winnipeg’s talent pipeline, which involve two dozen young players currently skating in various leagues and levels.

Zhilkin hasn’t looked out of place at all, skating on a fourth line with Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke that has found the net in three consecutive contests, including Pearson’s game-winner in Sunday’s 4-3 triumph over the New Jersey Devils.

And while Zhilkin still looking for his first big-league point — Pearson has two goals and an assist and Koepke has one tally and two helpers — he’s making a compelling case to stay in the lineup.

“He has got NHL speed. He can skate and he thinks the game real well,” said Jets coach Scott Arniel.

“We talked about him when he first came up that was one of the things the coaches said, ‘His hockey IQ is good,’ and it’s hard when kids jump in, especially their first game in the NHL, they jump in January and it is fast moving water and it can be (hard) for guys and I think he has handled it real well.

“I like that line. They have given us good minutes. To me it is what you hope you are going to get from that line and he is a young guy that has taken advantage of the opportunity that has been put in front of him.”

Zhilkin, who had 14 points (7G, 7A) in 30 games with the Moose, has clearly earned the trust of the bench boss by virtue of the fact he’s even drawn some penalty killing work.

“I was working hard for this moment. It’s pretty special, for sure,” he said prior to Sunday’s 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils. “I think Cole and Tanner they play with a lot of speed and a lot of grit to their game. So they’re a great line mates to play with.”

So who might be next to make the jump to the NHL, especially if the Jets were to become sellers by the trade deadline and spots currently occupied were to open up?

Let’s start with the farm, where Winnipeg has 11 other drafted players — 1o of their own and one obtained by trade — currently with the Moose.

AHL

F DAVID GUSTAFSSON (2nd round, 2018) — The 25-year-old is tied with veteran Walker Duehr for the team lead in scoring with 21 points (7G, 13A) in 32 AHL games. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him back up with the big club at some point soon.

D VILLE HEINOLA (1st round, 2019) — He’s picked it up after a rough start and leads Moose blueliners in scoring with 18 points (2G, 16A) in 34 games. While the ship may have sailed on a full-time Jets career, he could be a potential trade chip

D TYREL BAUER (6th round, 2020) — He continues to make the highlight reels for some heavyweight scraps that leave you worried about his long-term health. Bauer has three points (1G, 2A) in 26 games and leads the club with 64 penalty minutes. Will he ever get a look at the NHL level?

F NIKITA CHIBRIKOV (2nd round, 2021) — A nightmare since being demoted by the Jets early in the year. He has just two points (1G, 1A) in 18 games and you wonder if the extra weight/muscle he added during the summer is a detriment? Much more is expected from a guy who had 65 points (24G, 41A) in 100 previous AHL games over the past two years.

F BRAD LAMBERT (1st round, 2022) — Like Chibrikov, it’s been a rough ride since returning from the NHL. Lambert has seven points (3G 4A) through 21 games with the Moose and isn’t exactly helping raise his value after his agent publicly suggested a trade might be in his best interests.

D ELIAS SALOMONSSON (2nd round, 2022) — A return to the NHL in the near future seems likely, especially with Haydn Fleury and now Colin Miller injured with the Jets. Salomonsson remains Winnipeg’s top blue-line prospect. He now has eight points (1G, 7A) in 25 games.

F FABIAN WAGNER (6th round, 2022) — He recently returned from an injury absence and has just one goal in 14 games.

G DOM DIVINCENTIIS (7th round, 2022) — He’s struggled since being returned to the Moose following a brief call-up with the Jets last month. DiVincentiis now has a 3.01 goals against average and .897 save percentage in 20 appearances.

F COLBY BARLOW (1st round, 2023) — Slow and steady for the rookie pro, who now has seven points (3G, 4A) through 31 games. He’s likely realizing the jump from junior can be a tough one.

F BRAYDEN YAGER (1st round, 2023) — The only player on this list not actually drafted by the Jets, but we include him because of the high-profile trade with Pittsburgh for 2022 first-rounder Rutger McGroarty. Yager has hit a bit of a rough patch lately and is stuck at 14 points (4G, 10A) in 34 games.

G THOMAS MILIC (5th round, 2023) — After making his NHL debut with the Jets, Milic has returned to the farm and continues to play well. He has a 2.30 GAA and .911 SV% through 14 games.

ECHL

F JACOB JULIEN (5th round, 2023) — The 21-year-old suffered a lower-body injury during Moose training camp. Now fully healthy, he’s been assigned to the Norfolk Admirals to work off some rust and get his pro career underway. He has yet to record a point in his first two games. We’d expected to see him with the Moose later in the year.

OHL

F KEVIN HE (4th round, 2024) — The captain of the Niagara Ice Dogs was recently traded to the Flint Firebirds, who are loading up for a potential Memorial Cup run. He has eight points (4G, 4A) in his first six games with the new club and 39 points (18G, 21A) in 34 overall games.

F KIERON WALTON (6th round, 2024) — Another player on the move. Walton scored in his debut with the Peterborough Petes after putting up 52 points (24G, 28A) in 33 games with the Sudbury Wolves. He is among the OHL scoring leaders and sure looks like a steal for the Jets given his draft position.

D EDISON ENGLE (6th round, 2025) — The Illinois teen is an offensive defenceman with 22 points (2G, 20A) in 36 games for the Brantford Bulldogs. He’s expected to head to college next year to play with Ohio State.

F JACOB CLOUTIER (7th round, 2025) — He’s really picking up the pace and has 28 points (9G, 19A) in 37 games with the Saginaw Spirit.

WHL

F OWEN MARTIN (3rd round, 2025) — The Oakbank product has been a consistent producer for the Spokane Chiefs. He has 22 points (12G, 10A) in 37 games — just two goals short of his career high he set in 54 games as a rookie in 2023-24.

NCAA

D GARRETT BROWN (4th round, 2022) — The two-way defenceman with the University of Denver has already matched his career-high of eight points (1G, 7A) — but in exactly half the 42 games it took him last year.

F ZACH NEHRING (3rd round, 2023) — A key contributor for a Western Michigan squad which won the Frozen Four a year ago. The North Dakotan has 15 points (6G, 9A) in 22 games so far this year after putting up 30 points (13G, 17A) in 42 games a year ago.

D SASCHA BOUMEDIENNE (1st round, 2025) — Be very excited, Jets fans. The 18-year-old sure looks like the real deal, fresh off a terrific World Juniors in which he helped lead Sweden to the gold medal. Boumedienne had two goals and two assists in seven games on that big stage. He has six points (2G, 4A) in 19 games with Boston University this year.

EUROPE

D ALFONS FREIJ (2nd round, 2024) — Another bonafide blue-line prospect who also captured gold at the World Juniors. The 19-year-old with a big personality had seven assists in seven games and one epic celebration that went viral. He has two assists in 25 games with Timra IK of the top Swedish men’s league.

F MARKUS LOPONEN (5th round, 2024) — The 19-year-old Finn left home last year to play in the WHL, putting up a solid 44 points (19G, 25A) in 65 games with the Victoria Royals. He’s now gone back, suiting up with HPK Hameenlinna of SM-liiga where he has five points (2G, 3A) in 33 games.

F VIKTOR KLINGSELL (5th round, 2025) — He would appear to be too good for the Swedish junior league, with 34 points (13G, 21A) in 17 games after putting up 39 (17G, 22A) in 43 contests last year. He’s now been promoted to the top men’s league, with one goal so far through 12 games.

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