Top prospects for Winnipeg Jets

NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the top five prospects for the Winnipeg Jets, according to NHL.com.

1. Viggo Bjorck, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 8 pick in 2026 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: Djurgardens IF (SHL) 42 GP, 6-9-15

Winnipeg’s highest drafted player since forward Patrik Laine was taken with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Bjorck (5-foot-9, 177 pounds), had nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship. The 18-year-old also had six points (one goal, five assists) in eight games at the 2026 World Championship.

“He’s very outgoing and very in touch with what he wants to get better at,” Jets director of player development Jimmy Roy said. “He’s very competitive. He is undersized but makes up for that with his compete level and his work ethic, and I think that’s going to take him a long way to be a pretty good NHL player.”

Projected NHL arrival: This season

2. Brad Lambert, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 30 pick in 2022 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: Manitoba (AHL), 34 GP, 6-7-13; Winnipeg (NHL), 25 GP, 3-3-6

The Jets have been patient with Lambert (6-1, 173) and are hoping it pays off with him becoming a full-time NHL player this season.

The 22-year-old has worked on his two-way game in the past two and a half seasons with Manitoba of the American Hockey League. Lambert is going into the final year of his three-year, entry-level contract.

“His development path hasn’t been as direct as maybe he wanted it to be, or us, but that’s just the path he was on,” Roy said. “I think this year, this is his opportunity to make an impact. When he played in the NHL last year, he gained some momentum by using his speed and getting shots on net and getting to some of the harder areas. I think that’s one thing that he’s realized he’s going to have to do to play in the NHL and he’s getting better at it.”

Projected NHL arrival: This season

3. Sascha Boumedienne, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 28 pick in 2025 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: Boston University (NCAA), 35 GP, 2-8-10

Boumedienne (6-1, 175) is transferring to Ohio State University for 2026-27 after two seasons at Boston University. The 19-year-old is a highly touted puck-moving defenseman, who had four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games for Sweden at the 2026 World Junior Championship.

Winnipeg is expected to be patient with Boumedienne as he develops into a well-rounded defenseman.

“He is a tremendous skater and sees the ice really well and has good puck skills,” Roy said. “I think he has to physically get stronger for his size, because he’s a big kid, he still has to grow into his body a little bit. But he’s doing that; he works out hard in the offseason. He’s going to be a good player in the National Hockey League. His skating ability and his ability to get back for pucks, evade forecheckers and get the puck going in the right direction up ice, he’s got some great ability.”

Projected NHL arrival: Next season

4. Elias Salomonsson, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 55 pick in 2022 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: Manitoba (AHL), 29 GP, 1-8-9; Winnipeg (NHL), 32 GP, 1-4-5

Salomonsson (6-0, 172) appears ready to make the jump to the NHL full time this season after spending the past season and a half in Manitoba of the AHL. He is a strong two-way defenseman who is adept at winning puck battles in the corner and in front of the net.

The 22-year-old had 27 points (five goals, 22 assists) in 53 games in his first season with Manitoba in 2024-25.

“He is a very smart puck-moving defenseman. He can get the puck out of trouble, get shots off quickly,” Roy said. “He’s an excellent skater, gets his feet going in the right direction and gets on the right side of the puck breaking it out. Physically, he has to mature a little bit to play in the National Hockey League, and he’s starting to do that, to understand the physical side of the game for him and playing on the smaller ice than what was over in Europe. He’s another tremendous kid that’s going to have a great future in the National Hockey League.”

Projected NHL arrival: This season

5. Brayden Yager, F

How acquired: Traded by Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Rutger McGroarty on Aug. 22, 2024

2025-26 season: Manitoba (AHL), 68 GP, 10-20-30; Winnipeg (NHL), 3 GP, 0-0-0

Yager (6-0, 170) was selected by Pittsburgh with the No. 14 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He was acquired for McGroarty, who was selected by Winnipeg with the No. 14 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Yager was a standout in the Western Hockey League before turning pro last season. The 21-year-old had 82 points (25 goals, 57 assists) in 54 games with Moose Jaw and Lethbridge in 2024-25.

“He has tremendous skating ability,” Roy said. “His explosiveness is impressive in how fast he’s able to get away from people. He sees the ice really well in the offensive zone and the neutral zone. I think he has to get a little stronger defensively, he knows that. He’s still young, but there is a tremendous upside with his skill level and talent and vision and his will to play in the NHL. He’s going to be a good NHL player one day.”

Projected NHL arrival: Next season