2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Winnipeg Jets’ Top 10

Credit: Steven Ellis

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses, and so much more.

Here are the criteria for being labeled a prospect: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they must be 25 or under and have played fewer than 20 games in the past season or fewer than 30 games over their career.

Today, we’re breaking down the Winnipeg Jets – the 32nd and final team in this series.

What a weird time it is to be a Winnipeg Jets fan.

Two years ago, the club led the league with 116 points, taking home the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time. They eventually lost in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but most expected them to bounce back in 2025-26. But, quickly, everything went wrong. Nikolaj Ehlers left via free agency, and none of the UFA additions – Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke – could come near filling the gap. The Jets found themselves near the bottom of the standings and were one of the first teams eliminated from playoff contention.

Compared to many other teams that finished around them in the standings, the Jets lack prospect depth. But they’re not in a rebuild, so it’s understandable. Landing Viggo Björck at No. 8 was a huge get for the club, and he should play an impact role right out of the gate. Beyond that, though, there aren’t a ton of prospects worth getting too excited about for Winnipeg. There’s a couple of decent defenders who might play third-line role, and maybe a couple of energy forwards throughout. But that’s about it. This is about as mid of a pipeline you’ll find, especially once Björck ends up becoming a full-timer.

Biggest Strength

While I think some of the shine has worn off a bit on some guys, Winnipeg does have solid offensive depth. Björck is the shining star, no question about it. Brayden Yager might still be a solid middle-six option who shouldn’t be too far away from contributing. I’m less convinced about guys like Brad Lambert (trade bait?), Nikita Chibrikov and Colby Barlow, but they all have their strengths. Ideally, they end up developing into decent bottom-six threats and you build from there.

Biggest Weakness

While two defenders appear on this list, I really don’t like the lack of depth on the blueline. Elias Salomonsson is more of a shutdown guy, while I’m not fully convinced Sascha Boumedienne’s game is rounded enough (yet). Beyond that, there’s nobody that really intrigues me in the system. It was going to be tough to pass on Björck (who some scouts thought was the best center in the draft), but a defenseman like Keaton Verhoeff would have probably been more impactful to the team’s biggest need right now.

Fast Facts:

NHL GM: Kevin Cheveldayoff
Dir. of Amateur Scouting: Mark Hillier
Dir. of Player Development: Jimmy Roy
AHL Affiliate: Manitoba Moose
ECHL Affiliate: Bloomington Bison
Recent NHL Graduates: N/A

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Viggo Björck, C, 18 (Winnipeg Jets)

Acquired: Drafted eighth overall, first round in 2026

Björck could definitely be in the NHL this fall – his Swedish club seems to think so, too. definitely lacks the size teams crave in a center. The small, but fearless center is so fascinating; nobody seems to know how to contain him. At the World Championship, we saw him win battles against guys like Stanley Cup champion Ryan O’Reilly (6-foot-1, 216 pounds), David Tomasek (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) and even 6-foot-8 monster Malte Setkov. It’s like watching a younger Zach Benson. Björck’s shot is incredibly deceptive, especially on the power play. He doesn’t give you much to work with if you’re a goalie – and it’s because he doesn’t need to. Björck is quick, accurate and always in a dangerous spot, and there’s legitimate No. 1 center potential here. Björck is easily the most exciting prospect Winnipeg has had in a long time.

2. Elias Salomonsson, RHD, 21 (Winnipeg Jets)

Acquired: Drafted 55th overall, second round in 2022

Salomonsson made his NHL debut last season, registering five points in 32 NHL games. He spent more time in the NHL than the AHL, bouncing between the two levels during different stretches. While he’s not offensively gifted by any means, he’s defensively sound and can shut opponents down. Salomonsson does a good job of making sure he doesn’t get hit, and he’s an excellent skater, too. I think we’re talking about more of a shutdown defender in the NHL, but one who should have a good, long career getting in the way and being annoying to play against. It’s time for him to secure that full-time gig.

3. Brayden Yager, C, 21 (Manitoba Moose, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2024

*Brayden Yager (James Carey Lauder/Imagn Images)*

Yager was once one of the most exciting junior hockey prospects, so I was interested to see how he’d adjust to the pro game. The Moose weren’t a dangerous offensive team, so while 30 points might not seem like a lot, he was first among all “prospects” this past year. Yager is a stout two-way threat who, when he’s not putting pucks on net, can get back and defend until he has nothing left to offer. He’s not overly physical, but he puts a ton of muscle behind his shot. I think we’re talking about a middle-six forward who can play a variety of roles at the next level – power play and penalty kill, included. Look for Yager to get a boost from his three-game NHL run this past year.

4. Brad Lambert, C, 22 (Winnipeg Jets)

Acquired: Drafted 30th overall, first round in 2022

After requesting a trade early in 2025-26, many expected Lambert to get a fresh start at the trade deadline. That never happened, and he ultimately finished with underwhelming numbers in both the NHL and AHL. In Winnipeg, it felt like he was never really given the ice time needed to thrive. In Manitoba, nothing seemed to click, and we’ve seen his point-per-game production fall steadily since his promising 21-goal, 55-point AHL rookie campaign in 2023-24. The real draw here is still the skating, and his shot is still high-end for this pipeline. I’m just not sure what type of role he’ll be able to fill in the NHL – and I doubt it’ll be in Winnipeg when it’s all said and done. I’m still a believer, but I think a fresh start is desperately needed.

5. Sascha Boumedienne, LHD, 19 (Ohio State University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 28th overall, first round in 2025

Boumedienne saw a slight fall in production at Boston University, which wasn’t entirely surprising given the team was lousy to begin with. I thought he was just fine at the World Juniors, but it was nice to see him make some smart plays with the men’s team in the lead up to the World Championship (he was cut prior to the main event). Boumedienne is an offensive defender who plays with speed and a big reach. I’m not convinced he’s strong enough in his own zone to establish himself as a sure-fire NHL prospect, but there’s definitely enough raw talent here to make him interesting. Boumedienne is set to join Ohio State this year, where he’s expected to play north of 20 minutes a night. He’s also expected to have a huge role for Sweden’s World Junior team as they look to repeat as champions. If all goes well, maybe we’ll see Boumedienne playing big minutes with Manitoba in 2027-28.

6. Kieron Walton, C, 20 (Manitoba Moose, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 187th overall, sixth round in 2024

*Kieron Walton (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)*

Walton had one of the most exciting Draft+1 glow-ups we’ve seen in recent memory, going from 43 points in Sudbury in 2023-24 to 38 goals and 92 points the following year. Walton was one of Peterborough’s most consistent players, and had a monster playoff run against North Bay before ultimately falling short in the end. He’s such a unique prospect given the skill he plays with as a 6-foot-6 forward. While he’s capable of knocking guys down, that’s not really his game. Walton doesn’t drive through opponents with pure force, but prefers to get himself open and fire shots. The Jets will want him to harness his size a bit more to become more impactful at the pro game, but there’s still a lot to like about his development.

7. Nikita Chibrikov, LW, 23 (Manitoba Moose, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 50th overall, second round in 2021

Chibrikov saw his biggest NHL action to date this past year – an 11-game push, including three games to close out the year. Chibrikov has never been offensively gifted, which explains the lack of production this past year. He had 47 points in his 2023-24 AHL rookie season, but has managed just 34 in the two years since. What we have seen, though, is a winger who’s willing to engage physically in a way few other Jets prospects are. He’s mean for a dude standing at 5-foot-10, and he doesn’t seem to be afraid of anyone. I’m not sure he’s more than a AAA guy moving forward, though; the play-driving just isn’t there. But could he become a full-time checking-line winger? I hope so.

8. Colby Barlow, LW, 21 (Manitoba Moose, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 18th overall, first round in 2023

It always felt like Barlow was a bit of a boom-or-bust player who was going to need to figure out a stronger B-game if he wasn’t going to find a way to be more dangerous at 5-on-5. Unfortunately, his AHL rookie season left a lot to be desired, with the winger registering just eight goals and 16 points in 65 games. This is a guy who was always known for scoring goals – he never had fewer than 30 during his four-year OHL career. But it felt like he simply didn’t have the pace to exploit open space in the AHL like he did in junior. I think he could still establish himself as a physical power forward, but I’m far less convinced than I once was.

9. Samuel Hrenak, G, 18 (Fargo Force, USHL)

Acquired: Drafted 71st overall, third round in 2026)

*Samuel Hrenak (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Hrenak’s draft stock skyrocketed at the U-18s. where he posted a 4-1-0 record with a. 925 save percentage and just eight goals allowed through five games. It came after an impressive 7-1-1 run in Fargo, where he’s set to return this fall. The 6-foot-3 goalie is technically sound with good reflexes and play reads. He never seems to give up on a scoring chance and moves quick enough to get where he needs to be. Rebound control is still a work in progress, but in terms of roundedness, there weren’t many better goaltenders in this draft, from what I’ve seen.

10. Alfons Freij, LHD, 20, (Manitoba Moose, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 37th overall, second round in 2024

Freij made some serious noise at the World Juniors, registering seven points in seven games to finish as one of the best defenders at that tournament. It had to be great for his confidence, given he hadn’t produced much in the SHL up until that time. I’ve always liked his offensive game, and while six goals and 11 points might not seem like a ton in a 42-game season, he still finished second among U-20 defenders in scoring. Freij is a remarkable skater who comes at you at full speed. That mobility allows him to get back after a rush to help try and mitigate any disasters in his own zone. It feels like he doesn’t distribute the puck as effectively as he should and his defensive game lacks a bit to make me really convinced he’ll be an NHLer. But for now, I’m still happy with his development.

Other Prospects: Jacob Julien, C (21), Fabian Wagner, C (22), Danil Zhilkin, C (22), Landon Hafele, C (18), Owen Martin, C (19), Markus Loponen, C (20), Kevin He, LW (20), Zach Wooten, LW (20), Viktor Klingsell, RW (19), Jacob Cloutier, RW (19), Zach Nehring, RW (21), Connor Levis, RW (21), Alexandre Taillefer, LHD (18), Noa Ta’amu, LHD (18), Garrett Brown, RHD (22), Edison Engle, LHD (19), Domenic DiVincentiis, G (22), Thomas Milic, G (23), John Parsons, G (20)

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