GATINEAU, QC – Brayden Yager enters another key season in his development after posting 30 points (10G, 20A) in 68 games with the Manitoba Moose during his first pro campaign in 2025-26.
The jump from major junior to pro hockey is one of the toughest adjustments for any young player. A lot will be expected from Yager in his second season, more ice time, more opportunity. But with Jets training camp about to start this week in Winnipeg, Yager has bigger goals in mind.
“Yeah, I mean, I feel ready. I feel ready to play in the NHL,” said Yager following the Jets 3-1 win over Montreal at the 2026 Prospect Challenge.
“I think I had a really good summer, and I feel really confident. So yeah, I mean, gonna go into camp and work my tail off and try to earn a spot.”
Before main camp gets underway, Yager still has one more game to go, with the Jets set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in Gatineau to wrap up the Prospect Challenge. On Saturday, fellow first-round pick Viggo Björck made his debut, another sign of the talent continuing to build in the Jets’ prospect pool — something Yager has been impressed by.
“Yeah, it's been great, and it seems to kind of get better every year. And it's nice to kind of grow up with guys and hopefully get to play with these guys for a long time,” said Yager.
“You know, Viggo, and obviously a bunch of other players, Barz (Colby Barlow) and Brownie (Garrett Brown), and I could name I could name a bunch, but it's just nice to have these events or and opportunities to play with these guys and grow up with them and kind of progress with them.”
The players haven’t been together for very long. Friday was their first practice as a complete group before facing Montreal on Saturday. That can make things tough on the power play, with not much time to watch film, get comfortable with the system and build some chemistry. But when Winnipeg got its first man advantage, they looked right at home with Yager scoring the eventual game winning goal. The first power play unit included Yager, Björck, Colby Barlow, Lucas Wahlin and Alfons Freij.
“I thought Klimmer (assistant coach Morgan Klimchuk) obviously gave us spots to be in, and I think on the power play, skill takes over, and there's a lot of skill on the ice,” said Yager.
“It was it was fun. It's fun to play with good players, and yeah, like Viggo said, I mean with good players on the ice, it's easy.”
Moose head coach Mark Morrison liked what he saw from Yager, particularly the way the young forward was able to make plays with the puck while also bringing plenty of compete. And Yager showed some chemistry with fellow first-rounder Viggo Björck, especially on the power play.
“I mean, I really like the play that he made back to Viggo on the four-on-four. But I thought he saw the ice real well. I thought he competed hard,” said Morrison.
“Great shot on the power play. Made some nice passes on the power play. Both of those guys, Viggo and Brayden, on the power play looked really good. I mean, a couple great seam passes and shots. So that was nice.”
The Jets wrap up the 2026 Prospect Challenge Sunday afternoon at 12 CT.
