After winning the Presidents’ Trophy in the 2024-25 season, the Winnipeg Jets underachieved dramatically this season. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck had a down year; they couldn’t replace Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed with the Carolina Hurricanes as a free agent; and the depth disappeared like snow on a hot day.
As a result, the Jets are stuck in no-man’s land – not good enough to compete with top teams in the Central Division, but not bad enough to compete for a top draft pick either. However, a look at their top prospects should provide hope for the future.
At the beginning of the season, THW’s Declan Schroeder listed the Winnipeg Jets’ top 10 prospects. With most seasons outside of the NHL wrapping up, here’s an in-depth look at how each of those prospects has progressed.
No. 10: Domenic DiVincentiis
- Position:Â Goaltender
- Drafted:Â 207th Overall (7th Round) 2022 NHL Entry Draft
- Catches:Â Left
- Height/weight:Â 6-foot-2, 194 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 22, D+4
- Level: American Hockey League (AHL)
DiVincentiis was drafted in 2022 in the hopes that he would become Connor Hellebuyck’s backup. Three years later, he seems on pace to become just that, even if the road has been rocky. In 2024-25, he had a .906 save percentage (SV%) and 2.84 goals-against average (GAA) with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL). However, he was sent down to the ECHL that year, and with the Norfolk Admirals, he put up a .896 SV% and 2.97 GAA. He played just two games in the ECHL playoffs, earning a .885 SV% and 3.00 GAA.
This season, he got an extended look with the Moose, and it wasn’t pretty at first. In the regular season, he had a 13-16-2 (W-L-T) record with a .896 SV% and 3.03 GAA. The Moose went 35-29-0-8 overall, but they still made the playoffs.
The playoffs showed a much better version of DiVincentiis. He had a .955 SV%, with a stellar 1.43 GAA, allowing just seven goals through his five games. It was a great sign of progress, and if he continues to improve next season, he could make his NHL debut. He’s already overachieving for a seventh-round pick.
No. 9: Sascha Boumedienne
- Position:Â Defenseman
- Drafted:Â 28th Overall (1st Round) 2025 NHL Entry Draft
- Shoots:Â Left
- Height/weight:Â 6-foot-1, 175 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 19, D+1
- Level: Hockey East (H-East)
Winnipeg drafted Boumedienne for his two-way abilities and his great shot. He has great skating abilities and a solid transition game, and another season at Boston University was expected to show development. However, Boumedienne stagnated a bit. After getting 13 points in 40 games last year, he had 10 in 35 games this season. He also had a minus-8 versus a plus-7 in 2024-25. However, his performance in the 2026 World Junior Championship showed promise.
He had four points in seven games for Team Sweden en route to winning the gold medal, including scoring a goal in the gold-medal game. He still has plenty of time to live up to his potential, and he should become an NHL regular in the future.
No. 8: Jacob Julien
- Position:Â Center
- Drafted:Â 146th Overall (5th Round) 2023 NHL Entry Draft
- Shoots:Â Left
- Height/weight:Â 6-foot-4, 204 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 21, D+3
- Level: AHL
Julien’s game is all about persistence. The fifth-round pick in 2023 was highly overlooked, but thanks to his steady improvement in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he has a legitimate shot at making the NHL. The Jets signed him to an entry-level contract this past season, and his first AHL season was expected to turn heads.
However, Julien had more of a bottom-six role in the AHL. He had just three goals and four assists through 31 games, with a minus-3. Those aren’t the best numbers, but considering he held up decently, it’s a good sign he could become an NHLer in the future.
He might be out of the running to become a top-six center, but with his defensive game and his work ethic, he could make the NHL as a penalty-killing forward. I’d like to see him reach roughly 30 points a season over the next couple of years to be more certain he can make that jump.
No. 7: Kevin He
- Position:Â Left Wing
- Drafted:Â 109th Overall (4th Round) 2024 NHL Entry Draft
- Shoots:Â Left
- Height/weight:Â 6-foot, 182 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 20, D+2
- Level: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kevin He is one of the best stories around. The first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract, he has steadily improved and could etch out a meaningful role with the Jets. Despite a midseason trade from the Niagara IceDogs to the Flint Firebirds, he took a step in the right direction. He scored 77 points, including 25 goals, through 60 games after a 75-point, 14-goal season through 62 games last season.
In the OHL playoffs, he scored three goals and nine points through six games. At 20, he can now play in the AHL, and he has legitimate middle-six potential, but the move to the AHL and potentially the NHL will be a big transition. However, he’s already overachieving for a fourth-round pick, and he’s trailblazing in the process.
No. 6: Kieron Walton
- Position:Â Center
- Drafted:Â 187th Overall (6th Round) 2024 NHL Entry Draft
- Shoots:Â Left
- Height/weight:Â 6-foot-6, 227 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 20, D+2
- Level: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Walton is in a similar situation. The six-foot-six center has great goal-scoring potential, and he showed it in the OHL again this season. Through 62 games between the Sudbury Wolves and the Peterborough Petes, Walton notched 40 goals and 48 assists, putting him close to winning the Memorial Trophy. His numbers were also close to last season’s when he scored 38 goals and 52 assists through 66 games. In the playoffs, he earned three goals and three assists through six games.
However, there’s no question he has real NHL potential, which is huge for a sixth-round pick, and he should finally become a full-time AHLer next season. I’m curious to see how the Moose use him, especially given his somewhat disappointing defensive game (minus-8 and minus-12 the last two seasons). However, with his size, shot, and physicality, I think he could be a very effective power forward for the Moose.
No. 5: Colby Barlow
- Position:Â Left Wing
- Drafted:Â 18th Overall (1st Round) 2023 NHL Entry Draft
- Shoots:Â Left
- Height/weight:Â 6-foot-1, 194 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 21, D+3
- Level: AHL
Barlow has declined steadily since his draft year. He had 46 goals and 79 points through 59 games with the Owen Sound Attack in 2022-23 when the Jets drafted him in the first round. Since then, he scored 40 goals and 58 points through 50 games in 2023-24, and dropped to 32 goals and 61 points through 62 games in 2024-25. Still, he earned a shot in the AHL this season, scoring eight goals and 16 points through 65 games.
Barlow looks like more of a bottom-six player at this point, with his physicality and compete level still strong. However, his skating is limiting him from becoming a middle-six or even top-six forward that his first-round pedigree projected.
No. 4: Nikita Chibrikov
- Position:Â Right Wing
- Drafted:Â 50th Overall (2nd Round) 2021 NHL Entry Draft
- Shoots:Â Left
- Height/weight:Â 5-foot-10, 170 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 23, D+5
- Level: AHL/NHL
Chibrikov’s progress has also stalled in recent years. Unlike Barlow, however, Chibrikov has real AHL experience. The 23-year-old winger scored 17 goals and 30 assists through 70 games with the Manitoba Moose in 2023-24, making fans believe he could be a superstar.
However, the past two seasons haven’t shown signs of development. He scored seven goals and 18 points through 30 games in 2024-25 before suffering a season-ending injury, even getting four games of NHL action. In 2025-26, his production dropped to six goals and 16 points through 53 games.
The most frustrating was how he was used in the NHL. With injuries to Adam Lowry and Cole Perfetti, Chibrikov was expected to see some legitimate NHL experience. However, he had no points through 11 games while averaging just nine minutes of ice time per night. That’s hardly enough time to make a meaningful impact, and Chibrikov’s development might not see the light of day in this organization. Unless the Jets commit to a full rebuild, Chibrikov could be dealt to another organization to earn NHL playing time.
No. 3: Elias Salomonsson
- Position:Â Defenseman
- Drafted:Â 55th Overall (2nd Round) 2022 NHL Entry Draft
- Shoots:Â Right
- Height/weight:Â 6-foot, 172 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 21, D+4
- Level: NHL
Salomonsson finally made a jump to the NHL this season after two seasons in the AHL, and given his production and the minutes he logged, expect him to stick around for next season. Through 32 games, the Swedish defenseman earned a goal and four assists, with a minus-6 rating. While those are modest numbers, Salomonsson averaged nearly 18 minutes a night, a sign the coaching staff believes in him.
He has crossed the line to becoming a full-time NHLer, and that’s great considering Salomonsson was a second-rounder. With Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn off to the Buffalo Sabres, Salomonsson could get north of 20 minutes per game next season, earning time on the first power-play unit and penalty kill. His future as a top-four defenseman seems clearer after this season.
No. 2: Brad Lambert
- Position:Â Center
- Drafted:Â 30th Overall (1st Round) 2022 NHL Entry Draft
- Shoots:Â Right
- Height/weight:Â 6-foot-1, 172 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 22, D+4
- Level: AHL/NHL
Lambert hasn’t reached his ceiling yet. He had an incredible 2023-24 season in the AHL, with 21 goals and 34 assists through 64 games, but it’s been a frustrating ride since then. In 2024-25, he took a moderate step back, with seven goals and 28 assists through 61 AHL games, while playing just five games in the NHL. In 2025-26, he scored six goals and seven assists through 34 AHL games and earned an extended look at the NHL.
Through 25 games, he had three goals and three assists, while earning 10 minutes a night. He was also put with struggling veterans and bottom-six players instead of the star core. Playing alongside Cole Koepke, Morgan Barron, and Parker Ford wasn’t going to help his development.
With the acquisition of Isak Rosen from the Stanley/Schenn trade, Winnipeg could have a solid line forming if they get a right winger. Lambert’s time on the second power-play unit is a good sign, and he already has good penalty-killing instincts. Overall, though, he needs more NHL time and better linemates, for both him and Winnipeg’s sake.
No. 1: Brayden Yager
- Position:Â Center
- Drafted:Â 14th Overall (1st Round) 2023 NHL Entry Draft
- Shoots:Â Right
- Height/weight:Â 6-foot, 170 pounds
- Age/Development Year: 21, D+3
- Level: AHL
Yager was infamously acquired in the Rutger McGroarty trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Unfortunately, the Penguins seem to have won this deal so far. While McGroarty is developing nicely, Yager’s development has been below average.
He had just 30 points (10 goals and 20 assists) through 68 games this season with the Moose, although he looked good at the start. He saw just three games of NHL action as well. He has the intangibles, such as playmaking instincts, that don’t show up on the scoresheet, and he was on a top line with power-play time for the Moose.
Still, it’s concerning that a 21-year-old winger who was hyped up as a potential top-six option has just 30 points in 68 AHL games. Next season, the objective is clear: make the NHL roster and become a regular. He needs to start seeing real NHL minutes because time is running out for him to be an NHL contributor.
The Jets Desperately Need A Right-Shot Defenseman
It’s clear Winnipeg doesn’t have many high-end defence prospects to speak of. While the forward prospect pool (especially at center) has been filled in by late-round talent (Walton, He), the defence core needs a jolt in the 2026 NHL Draft.
With Salomonsson set to become an NHL regular, Boumedienne could be the only defenseman on this list who is still a prospect. Alfons Freij showed some potential this season, making the AHL and the Swedish Hockey League, but the Jets need more depth for their blue line. Management could prioritize defence with their first-round pick, selecting someone like Daxon Rudolph on the right side. Regardless, Winnipeg has plenty of prospects ready to make the NHL full-time, and in a transition season, they should consider focusing on the youth.
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