Yager firmly settled in for next chapter of hockey journey

Brayden Yager is set to be a sponge. As the Winnipeg Jets top forward prospect prepares for his second training camp since he was acquired in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins for Rutger McGroarty in August 2024, Yager knows that he’s going to be cutting his teeth in the professional ranks this season.

Driedger brings depth to hometown team

LAS VEGAS — Chris Driedger is quick to admit he was a little bit surprised to see the number for Roberto Luongo pop up on his phone on the day of the NHL trade deadline.

The veteran netminder had just been reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League by the Florida Panthers, but this wasn’t a social call from Luongo, the Hall of Fame goalie who is now a special advisor to general manager Bill Zito.

Driedger was on the move again, this time to his hometown as the Winnipeg Jets had acquired him as goaltending insurance in a deal for Kaapo Kahkonen.

“It came as a surprise,” Driedger said in an interview earlier this week. “It was kind of a whirlwind, for sure. It took me a minute to process and then, it was exciting. To come back to Winnipeg and come back home. An exciting opportunity, too.”

Salomonsson turning heads with Moose

There has not been a ton of positive news coming out of the Manitoba Moose this season. Elias Salomonsson would be a notable exception.

The 20-year-old defenceman from Sweden is enjoying a successful rookie year, even if it included a nearly two-month absence after suffering a right shoulder injury when he was on the receiving end of a big hit during a Dec. 6 game against Belleville.

Now back to full health, Salomonsson had two assists on Sunday afternoon in a 7-2 victory over the Iowa Wild and showed why he is viewed as the best blue-line prospect currently in the Winnipeg Jets pipeline.

“It was a long time to be sidelined,” Salomonsson told the Free Press following the game. “But I’m happy to be back and getting back up to pace. Feeling better and better.”

Moose look to build on success

The surging Winnipeg Jets are enjoying life in the NHL’s penthouse suite. It’s a much different story for the struggling Manitoba Moose, who find themselves fighting just to stay out of the basement of the AHL standings.

What’s been going wrong on the farm this season?

“I think there’s been times where we’ve had the execution and it hasn’t gone in the net. I think over time, if that continues to be the trend and you’re getting the chances but it doesn’t go in, that can start to fester and carry over,” Moose assistant coach Morgan Klimchuk told the Free Press.

“And confidence, it’s a buzzword in hockey but you really see it.”

Ford firing on all cylinders after Jets recall

BOSTON — Parker Ford was in a deep sleep, though this jarring phone call was one he’d been waiting for his entire life.

As he awoke in a hotel room in the Chicago suburbs preparing to suit up for the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday night, the voice on the other end of the line told him he’d been recalled by the Winnipeg Jets.

This was not a dream though, it was very much a reality.

“We were on a road trip and I was actually pre-game napping and my phone started ringing,” Ford said after the morning skate on Thursday. “I thought it was my alarm, but it was the call. Yeah, just pure joy in the moment.”

Jets put Barron on injured reserve

BOSTON — Morgan Barron is the latest Winnipeg Jets player to be bitten by the injury bug.

The Winnipeg Jets forward was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, according to Puck Pedia.

That would leave the Jets with only 12 healthy forwards, so it probably wasn’t a coincidence Parker Ford was scratched from the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday night.

An official recall of a forward isn’t expected until Thursday morning, since the Jets had already recalled Brad Lambert for the three-game road trip.

Chibrikov earns his shot: Giving Moose scoring leader NHL experience all part of Jets long-term plan

Winger Nikita Chibrikov, who leads the Moose in scoring with five goals and 13 points in 18 games in the American Hockey League, has been called up to the Jets.

Lambert gets the call with Ehlers on injured reserve

Nikolaj Ehlers has moved past the day-to-day stage, but by all accounts, the Winnipeg Jets high-scoring winger isn’t going to be out long term.

Vast majority of NHLers still choose to play without neck protection

In terms of hockey gear, it doesn’t look much — a tall, black adjustable collar consisting of cut-resistant fabric and high-impact foam. Yet, to hear it from the majority of today’s NHL players, the neck guard is a form of kryptonite.