Winnipeg’s NHL roster is a President’s Trophy-winning, veteran-heavy group with playoff demons to slay. Its top prospects — Elias Salomonsson, Sascha Boumedienne, Brayden Yager, Brad Lambert and more — will be in tough positions to win NHL jobs at training camp.

However, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff spoke about the NHL opportunities during his offseason media availability. Lambert has the blazing speed of a top-six forward — like Nikolaj Ehlers, whose offseason departure creates a hole in Winnipeg’s top six — while Salomonsson dominated in his best AHL games last season.

Is there a chance these top prospects could make Winnipeg’s roster this year? When will each of Winnipeg’s prospects be ready for the NHL — and, when they do make it, what can we expect from their NHL careers? (Also important: When will the Jets roster be able to accommodate them?)

We’ll try to answer those questions about Winnipeg’s top prospects today. Many of them are practising this week ahead of the Prospect Showdown in Montreal this weekend. What can we expect from their careers?

Before getting started: The idea of “estimated arrival” refers to when I’d expect a player to play their next several NHL games. There could be some ups and downs before they become permanent fixtures on the Jets roster — and some players won’t make it that far. Second, the long-term projection is what kind of role and impact the player will ultimately have in Winnipeg — not the role they’ll have right when they get called up. Finally, my projections are meant as broad expectation setters and not a hard ceiling or floor for each player.

Prospect showdown ready 💪

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— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) September 4, 2025

Sascha Boumedienne, 18, LHD, Boston University (NCAA)

Long-term projection: Second-pairing defenceman

Estimated arrival: 2028-29

Sascha Boumedienne has a history of outperforming expectations. At 17 years old, he was the youngest player in men’s Division I NCAA hockey for much of last season and the youngest defenceman throughout it. He responded to the learning curve by establishing himself as a top-four defenceman in the second half of the season and elevating his game at the Frozen Four. Boumedienne pulled off the same trick at 16 years old in the USHL the previous season, struggling early and developing into a cornerstone player by the end of the season.

I start with this context to explain (and to debate) his timeline. I’m expecting Boumedienne to play two more seasons in college and need at least one season of AHL hockey, thereby entering the NHL equation in 2028-29. It’s a development path that would mirror Dylan Samberg’s NHL arrival — three years in college, one full season in the AHL and then a partial AHL/NHL season — and it’s a reasonable path for the fleet-footed Boumedienne.

But this season will be the first time in ages that Boumedienne, now 18, starts on a level playing field with his peers. Boumedienne could theoretically depart college after two seasons and sign in the AHL at just 19 years old, betting on himself early — again. He’s a gifted skater who’s put a lot of work into his edges, moving nimbly in all directions. He also excels at puck retrievals and, despite needing to get stronger, he’s well on his way to NHL size: Boston lists him at 6-foot-2, 183 pounds.

I still think caution is the safer bet. If all goes well, Boumedienne will cement himself as a big minutes defenceman for Boston University this season and dominate college next year. The AHL promises its own learning curve in 2027-28; clear that hurdle, and Boumedienne could make his NHL debut in 2028-29 — the year after Samberg, Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo’s current contracts come to an end.

Brayden Yager, 20, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Long-term projection: Middle six centre

Estimated arrival: 2026-27

Winnipeg has a few top prospects with significant boom/bust potential. Brayden Yager appears to be the opposite of that — a centreman whose all-around game should be enough to win NHL minutes even if his offence wavers at the pro level. That’s not to say Yager lacks offensive ability; he’s a smart, creative playmaker with the puck on his stick and carries a heavy shot. (He scored 28 goals in 56 playoff games as a WHL player.) He should be capable of playing a top-six AHL role this season and, if he can excel in that role, there’s a chance Yager’s ceiling looks more like that of a second-line centre than the 3C I’m projecting now.

The good news is that he’s a mature, responsible player with the work ethic and obsession with self-improvement that he’s a good bet to help Winnipeg win hockey games even if he “only” tops out as a third-line centre. There’s enough dimension to Yager’s game that I’m projecting one full-time AHL season, with a transition to NHL minutes as soon as 2026-27.

Elias Salomonsson, 21, RHD, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Long-term projection: Second-pairing defenceman

Estimated arrival: 2026-27

Elias Salomonsson’s best-case scenario could see the 6-foot-2 right-shot defenceman approach — or even eclipse — Dylan Samberg’s level of NHL quality. Salomonsson’s best AHL games are dominant — a feat Salomonsson has accomplished even younger than Samberg did when he came out of college.

It’s difficult to name the one aspect of Salomonsson’s game that will emerge as dominant in the NHL, though. He’s a mobile, all-around defenceman who can win battles in tough spots and then get the puck moving north. He skates well, shoots hard and drives enough AHL offence such that he posted 27 points in 53 games last season. That’s stunning stuff on a Moose team that struggled to generate offence. I’m not sure I see Salomonsson playing a big role on an NHL power play or becoming an utterly dominant shutdown defender, but he works so hard and reads the game well enough that he’ll find his way as a top-four defenceman all the same.

There is even a world in which Winnipeg’s best play is to forget about its surplus of veteran defencemen, giving Salomonsson third-pairing minutes as soon as this season. I don’t think the Jets are interested in that. Salomonsson is waivers exempt this season and next; I don’t think Winnipeg is going to trip over itself to force Salomonsson into the NHL in a hurry.

I think he’ll force his way onto the Jets next season, though, and cement himself as an NHL regular the year after that. If he can force the issue even sooner, Salomonsson’s odds of a top-pairing NHL peak would seem to soar.

Colby Barlow, 20, LW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Long-term projection: Middle six winger

Estimated arrival: 2027-28

Colby Barlow’s task towards carving out a long NHL career will be to prove that he’s not a one-dimensional player — or to become so unbelievably good at goal scoring that the other holes in his game don’t hold him back. Barlow’s one-timer is exceptional: powerful, accurate, capable of beating professional goaltenders. His skating and puck skills were good at the OHL level, but don’t project to dominate an NHL game. His work ethic is good. Barlow is a competitive, hardworking player and demonstrated plenty of resolve, turning a poor start to last season into a dominant playoff push.

There are concerns about his pace and defensive impact translating to a top-six NHL role, and I’m guessing Lambert and Yager beat him to the NHL. That said, Barlow did well to find his game at crunch time last season and is ideally ready to take that momentum to the AHL. He will likely receive a top-six opportunity this season, and his one-timer could play a major role on Manitoba’s top power play.

Brad Lambert, 21, C/RW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Long-term projection: Middle six forward

Estimated arrival: 2026-27

Brad Lambert should play NHL games this season, but he’s in a tough spot, given the number of veteran forwards Winnipeg signed this summer. He’s also past the age where players who eventually become top-six forwards in the NHL usually earn big-league playing time. Cole Perfetti played 50 games the season he turned 21, Jack Roslovic played half a season in the NHL, and Kyle Connor scored 31 goals for Winnipeg at the same age. Nikolaj Ehlers, who Lambert might hope to replace with his speed, turned 21 in February of his second full season in the NHL, scoring 25 goals and 39 assists.

Lambert turns 22 in December and scored seven goals and 28 assists on a Moose team that struggled to generate offence last season. The Jets recognized that problem — they’ve signed a slew of AHL impact players this season — but I tend to think that a player as fast and talented as he is should be able to get into dangerous areas in the AHL without that kind of cavalry. I believe he’s capable of re-establishing himself as a top-six prospect this season, but it’s important to acknowledge the urgency. Whatever league he plays in, this is a crucial season for Lambert’s development.

Nikita Chibrikov, 22, RW

Long-term projection: Bottom six forward

Estimated arrival: 2026-27

Nikita Chibrikov is a tenacious left-shooting winger who plays predominantly on the right wing. He has a powerful wrist shot and good puck skills, showing creativity in addition to grit. He’s also a good bet to win his board battles in the name of getting a zone exit or keeping the puck under control in the offensive zone. He’s not a burner in terms of top speed, but can beat defencemen with changes of direction and pace. Outside of raw speed, the biggest knock on Chibrikov is his size: He’s listed at 5-foot-11, 193 pounds on the Manitoba Moose roster. He’ll need to prove he can be as pesky and effective outside of his offensive production to establish himself as a full-time NHL player.

I think Chibrikov will play games in the NHL this season, just as he’s done in each of the past two seasons, but don’t anticipate his full-time NHL arrival until 2026-27. He’ll lose his waivers exemption next season and should have the chops to win a roster spot on merit next season. Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke stand in his way now, among more established veterans, but they’re each on one-year deals. The Jets also have Kyle Connor, Adam Lowry, Gustav Nyquist and Jonathan Toews as pending unrestricted free agents in their forward group. If even one of those players moves on, 2026-27 will provide more opportunities than exists today.

Honourable mentions

Kieron Walton, 19, was brilliant in the OHL last season, doubling his point production and making the Jets look good for drafting him 187th in 2024. The 6-foot-6 centre who studies Tage Thompson YouTube videos in his spare time could be a dominant junior hockey player this season. His professional route likely involves one more OHL season and multiple AHL seasons after it, unless he surprises us all over again.

Kevin He’s post-draft season was special in its own right, where he scored 75 points in 62 games and emerged as a leader for the Niagara IceDogs. He is less physically imposing than Walton but makes himself a pain for his opponents through an in-your-face playing style. Alfons Freij is a mobile defenceman with enough puck skill to impress, but whose decision-making needs improvement before being considered an NHL player.

Tyrel Bauer comes without that puck skill, but is so physically imposing that he may yet earn an NHL look. Viktor Klingsell, Zach Nehring and Jacob Julien have long-term potential. The Jets hold 21-year-old collegiate defenceman Garrett Brown in high regard.

I also value goaltenders Dom DiVincentiis and Thomas Milic, who should benefit from an improved Moose roster this season. DiVincentiis (.906) posted Manitoba’s best save percentage last year, followed by Kaapo Kahkonen, Milic and Chris Driedger. Kahkonen and Driedger have over 200 NHL games between them, offering hope for DiVincentiis and Milic even in a down year. The caveat, of course, is that Connor Hellebuyck isn’t likely to cede NHL playing time any time soon.

(Photo: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)