Prospect Info: Jets Prospects

Well woof. That was a huge swing and a miss for a mid 1st round pick. Lots of quality guys taken after him too. Wyatt Johnston taken 5 spots after. Yikes.

If Lucius would have remained healthy, he definitely had potential. This was definitely NOT a swing and a miss. How were the Jets supposed to know that he would be injury prone for the next 4 years?
 
The fact that he was crippled when they drafted him might have been a hint lol

Yeah, I guess they thought he'd be able to overcome it. Sometimes risks don't pay off.

He had most of the traits this org is good at identifying. Good hands, high hockey IQ, and a plus shot. He definitely fit the template for drafting players with skill and IQ that had some physical limiting factors that would have to be ironed out.

The org has done well with these types of picks, didn't work out this time.
 
Yeah, I guess they thought he'd be able to overcome it. Sometimes risks don't pay off.

He had most of the traits this org is good at identifying. Good hands, high hockey IQ, and a plus shot. He definitely fit the template for drafting players with skill and IQ that had some physical limiting factors that would have to be ironed out.

The org has done well with these types of picks, didn't work out this time.
Yup. You roll the dice a bit with a pick like that. A kid his age should have healed and put it behind him... and I think (without knowing the details of what's going on now) that he largely did.

The knee seems OK, but the ankle and the shoulder went too. Thr org had no way of knowing that would happen
 
The Hockey News Future Watch edition has the Jets’ top 10 prospects ranked as follows:

1 - Yager
2 - Lambert
3 - Chibrikov
4 - Barlow
5 - Salomonsson
6 - Freij
7 - Lucius
8 - He
9 - Walton
10 - Julien

I’d have Salomonsson higher. DDV would be in my top 10. I would not have Lucius in the top 10. I’d have Nehring ahead of Julien. This also shows how few prospects the Jets have on D.
Just to add on, I’ll share some paraphrased notes that they had on each of these players:

1. Brayden Yager: Wore the ‘C’ for Canada at the World Juniors, but his production was highly-disappointing despite being force-fed big minutes. The Jets aren’t discouraged, though, and are very high on his hockey sense and his ability to create.

2. Brad Lambert:
Although he’s having a bit of a disappointing season with Manitoba in the AHL, there is not much reason for Jets’ fans to be concerned. Once thought of as a projected top-five pick, his offence was never in question. What’s going to get him to the NHL is a refined focus on using his speed and strength, and his improved compete level.

3. Nikita Chibrikov: Chibrikov surprised last year in his first year in North America with an excellent rookie season. The Jets expect the energetic and enthusiastic Chibrikov to force his way onto the team, probably as early as next season. His compete, shot, and vision are all NHL-quality already.

4. Colby Barlow: Barlow’s pure goal-scoring ability leaps off the page, with an incredibly accurate, heavy shot. His game is likely to transfer over well to the pros, too, if his three-point AHL cameo is anything to judge by. Past this, the Jets are impressed with his natural leadership qualities, his competitiveness, and his ability to “pull all players into the fight.” The Jets have also been impressed by his work ethic and dedication to the game off-the-ice.

5. Elias Salomonsson: Injuries have put a damper on what has otherwise been an impressive rookie AHL campaign for Salomonsson. His shot is a “useful tool,” but his skating is far and away his best asset. His speed and gracefulness leads him to seemingly being everywhere on the ice at once. Needs to work on his physicality and strength, but there’s no question his upside is tremendous.

6. Alfons Freij: Good puck-moving D with a pro-level shot who needs to get stronger on his skates.

7. Chaz Lucius: The talent is obvious, but he needs to stay healthy. Injuries have completely derailed his career and development.

8. Kevin He: Excellent combination of skill and hustle. Natural leader and captain of his junior team this season.

9. Kieron Walton: Has the size of an old-school power forward with the skill set of a modern playmaker.

10. Jacob Julien: Defensively-focused forward who always takes care of his own end, even if that means sacrificing offence.


Not sure how much I’d read into this — as it’s been said, I’m sure a lot of us follow these prospects more than The Hockey News. Case in point: using the WJC as a measuring stick for Yager. Still thought it was interesting to add to the discussion.

They gave the Jets a C+ grade and ranked our prospect pool 21st in the league. In the top 100, Yager was ranked 23, Lambert was ranked 78, Chibrikov was ranked 80 and Barlow was ranked 81. For anyone who cares, McGroarty is ranked 76.

For those wondering, San Jose was ranked 1st and Florida last. Within our division, Chicago’s pool was ranked 3rd, Colorado’s 30th, Dallas’s 15th, Minnesota’s 8th, Nashville’s 14th, St. Louis’s 12th, Utah’s 5th.

Here’s their top 10 prospects:

1. Ivan Demidov (Montreal)
2. Ryan Leonard (Washington)
3. Beckett Sennecke (Anaheim)
4. Zeev Buium (Minnesota)
5. Artyom Levshunov (Chicago)
6. Zayne Parekh (Calgary)
7. Sam Dickinson (San Jose)
8. Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis)
9. Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Detroit)
10. Tij Iginla (Utah)
 
Last edited:
Just to add on, I’ll share some paraphrased notes that they had on each of these players:

1. Brayden Yager: Wore the ‘C’ for Canada at the World Juniors, but his production was highly-disappointing despite being force-fed big minutes. The Jets aren’t discouraged, though, and are very high on his hockey sense and his ability to create.

2. Brad Lambert:
Although he’s having a bit of a disappointing season with Manitoba in the AHL, there is not much reason for Jets’ fans to be concerned. Once thought of as a projected top-five pick, his offence was never in question. What’s going to get him to the NHL is a refined focus on using his speed and strength, and his improved compete level.

3. Nikita Chibrikov: Chibrikov surprised last year in his first year in North America with an excellent rookie season. The Jets expect the energetic and enthusiastic Chibrikov to force his way onto the team, probably as early as next season. His compete, shot, and vision are all NHL-quality already.

4. Colby Barlow: Barlow’s pure goal-scoring ability leaps off the page, with an incredibly accurate, heavy shot. His game is likely to transfer over well to the pros, too, if his three-point AHL cameo is anything to judge by. Past this, the Jets are impressed with his natural leadership qualities, his competitiveness, and his ability to “pull all players into the fight.” The Jets have also been impressed by work ethic and dedication to the game off-the-ice.

5. Elias Salomonsson: Injuries have put a damper on what has otherwise been an impressive rookie AHL campaign for Salomonsson. His shot is a “useful tool,” but his skating is far and away his best asset. His speed and gracefulness leads him to seemingly being everywhere on the ice at once. Needs to work on his physicality and strength, but there’s no question his upside is tremendous.

6. Alfons Freij: Good puck-moving D with a pro-level shot who needs to get stronger on his skates.

7. Chaz Lucius: The talent is obvious, but he needs to stay healthy. Injuries have completely derailed his career and development.

8. Kevin He: Excellent combination of skill and hustle. Natural leader and captain of his junior team this season.

9. Kieron Walton: Has the size of an old-school power forward with the skill set or a modern playmaker.

10. Jacob Julien: Defensively-focused forward who always takes care of his own end, even if that means sacrificing offence.


Not sure how much I’d read into this — as it’s been said, I’m sure a lot of us follow these prospects more than The Hockey News. Case in point: using the WJC as a measuring stick for Yager. Still thought it was interesting to add to the discussion.

They gave the Jets a C+ grade and ranked our prospect pool 21st in the league. In the top 100, Yager was ranked 23, Lambert was ranked 78, Chibrikov was ranked 80 and Barlow was ranked 81. For anyone who cares, McGroarty is ranked 76.

For those wondering, San Jose was ranked 1st and Florida last. Within our division, Chicago’s pool was ranked 3rd, Colorado’s 30th, Dallas’s 15th, Minnesota’s 8th, Nashville’s 14, St. Louis’s 12th, Utah’s 5th.

Here’s their top 10 prospects:

1. Ivan Demidov (Montreal)
2. Ryan Leonard (Washington)
3. Beckett Sennecke (Anaheim)
4. Zeev Buium (Minnesota)
5. Artyom Levshunov (Chicago)
6. Zayne Parekh (Calgary)
7. Sam Dickinson (San Jose)
8. Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis)
9. Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Detroit)
10. Tij Iginla (Utah)
Are we overvaluing our own prospect or are they missing the boat on Salo?
Lots of people here have him as our number one or two prospect.
 
Freij played a U20 game yesterday and didn't get into the Bjorkloven playoff game today. Not sure why.

(Last game of the season they dressed 8D so maybe he's just the an odd one out - they dressed 6D and an extra forward today)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: macmaroon and hn777
Is Lucius currently injured? Would be nice to see the Jets dress him at least one late season game once the playoff bracket has taken shape. At least he could retire with himself taken at least his rookie lap.
 
Is Lucius currently injured? Would be nice to see the Jets dress him at least one late season game once the playoff bracket has taken shape. At least he could retire with himself taken at least his rookie lap.
I believe he's been battling some "ailment" - so some kind of infection or something? It's a bit of a mystery.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hn777
If Lucius would have remained healthy, he definitely had potential. This was definitely NOT a swing and a miss. How were the Jets supposed to know that he would be injury prone for the next 4 years?
Well, he did have an injury history going into the draft. A fairly significant knee injury actually where he apparently needed to "learn how to walk again". Here is a piece from an article shortly after he was drafted:

"You can count Muse among the many folks who were impressed by how Lucius handled himself during the long road to recovery — which included some time in a wheelchair and having to spend a lot of time in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber as a way to help speed up the process before he needed to learn how to walk again."

Obviously the Jets could/would not have known that his injuries would keep piling up to the point of where he is now, but some injury flags were present before the draft.
 
Last edited:
Are we overvaluing our own prospect or are they missing the boat on Salo?
Lots of people here have him as our number one or two prospect.

They're missing the boat. Every Moose game I go to he's by far one of the most noticeable players (in a good way), really impressed with his play in the offensive zone this year to go along with good defense. Guy is still 20 years old too, has no problem physically engaging pro hockey players a decade older.

The Moose are a bit of a train wreck, they break down as a team so many times, so I don't blame anyone for not watching a lot of their games.

Could probably use a new coach next year and some better AHL vets.
 
In terms of NHLe's Salomonsson has been 3rd or 4th among all Jets-drafted defense prospects every year since his D+1. And his NHLe's have improved every year.

He's everything you want to see from a D prospect in terms of scoring, and exemplifies the idea that it's a good sign that even (maybe especially) a defensive defenseman should be able to score well as a prospect.
 

Latest posts

Ad

Ad