Which Jets prospects are NHL-ready? Winnipeg’s projected U23 roles for 2026-27

Kevin Cheveldayoff has often told media that there’s opportunity for young players with the Winnipeg Jets. He has a habit of signing veteran depth players, who his coaches often give ice time at young players’ expense.

It’s as though Cheveldayoff dares his top prospects to surpass replacement level veterans, only for his coaches to decide those veterans are better “win now” options. It may also be that the prospects simply haven’t been ready, but that narrative began to shift at the end of last season, when playing time opened up for Brad Lambert, Elias Salomonsson, Isak Rosen, Brayden Yager, and Nikita Chibrikov.

Which of these players can help next season’s Jets? Who’s ready for a bigger role? And when Cheveldayoff’s offseason work is done, which Jets aged 23 or younger will end up earning NHL jobs?

Here are best- and worst-case scenarios, my projections, and a look at one potential 2026-27 Jets roster.

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Brad Lambert, RW/C, 22

Best reasonable case: Lambert puts his speed on display early and often. He cuts wide and into the middle with equal aplomb, making defenders guess more often than when he was primarily a perimeter player and beating them as a result. He channels his speed into forechecking and backchecks with such vigor such that he earns Scott Arniel’s trust. He plays a second line, second power play unit role, and scores close to 50 points.

Worst reasonable case: Lambert struggles to create space for himself despite his outlandish speed. Whether he’s unable to sell outside routes before surprising with inside movement or it’s more about strength in battle situations, Lambert fails to score enough to earn a top-six job or defend well enough to play on Winnipeg’s third line.

Projection: Lambert sticks in the NHL for the full season, finishing around ninth or 10th in even-strength minutes while getting second-unit power play time. He is an inconsistent scorer, finishing 82 games with 30-40 points.

Elias Salomonsson, RD, 21

Best reasonable case: Salomonsson recovers from shoulder surgery ahead of schedule. He opens the season on the Jets’ third pair, playing with a more effective partner than incumbent Haydn Fleury. The Jets commit to Salomonsson as an NHL player, despite his waivers exemption (and any early-season rust). He gets stronger, despite or perhaps as a response to his injury, and becomes a top-four option who impacts the game in all three zones. Fans are incensed that he’s not used as Josh Morrissey’s partner on the top pair.

Worst reasonable case: Salomonsson misses camp and gets assigned to Manitoba, where he’s slow to get going and fails to assert himself as Winnipeg’s early call-up option. By midseason, Winnipeg is committed to its wild card push and won’t try Salomonsson ahead of veterans like Colin Miller or Jacob Bryson, who it signed in the offseason to compensate for Salomonsson’s absence. He stagnates.

Projection: Salomonsson starts slowly — maybe even in the AHL, pending health — but earns his NHL job all over again. By season’s end, he’s the Jets’ clear No. 5, sometimes outplaying Dylan DeMelo and Neal Pionk.

Isak Rosén, RW/LW, 23

Best reasonable case: Rosén’s first full NHL season provides secondary scoring and tenacity that helps win games when that scoring goes cold. He plays with the same confidence he’s demonstrated in the AHL, waterbugging his way into scoring areas and finding dangerous opportunities to shoot. Rosén’s season proves that the point-per-game AHL scorer can play a top-six role in the NHL, too.

Worst reasonable case: Rosén’s lack of strength or straight-line speed makes it hard for him to find soft ice. Despite good lateral movement, fast hands, and a good shot, Rosén can’t drive play on his own and plays too far down the lineup to produce offence. The “AAAA” designation — too good for the AHL, not good enough for the NHL — that critics hurled at Rosén in Buffalo finds its way to Winnipeg.

Projection: Rosén plays a bottom-six role and receives second-unit power play time. His numbers don’t pop. Some of Rosén’s goals are pretty and fans maintain hope in his top-six upside.

Nikita Chibrikov, RW/LW, 23

Best reasonable case: Chibrikov stays healthy. He earns an NHL job, such that the Jets don’t have to risk waivers, and then keeps his work boots on. He makes himself an absolute pain to play against and adds offence from the bottom six. He’s a dogged forechecker, getting pucks out and keeping pucks in, and looks like he could become a complementary possession player like Mathieu Perreault, with a better shot.

Worst reasonable case: Chibrikov is unable to turn his work rate into NHL results. He’s not fast or physically effective enough to win a job on Adam Lowry’s line and doesn’t score enough for a top-six job, so he stagnates on Winnipeg’s fourth line (or worse, the press box).

Projection: Chibrikov is less likely than Lambert or Rosén to surprise on the Jets’ secondary scoring line, despite starting last season on the second line. Depth minutes, the press box, a waivers claim, and passage through waivers are all possibilities.

Danny Zhilkin, C, 22

Best reasonable case: Danny Zhilkin turns his short NHL audition into an impressive Jets camp — better than his already-impressive work in 2024 and 2025. His tireless motor, and growing ability to beat NHL players in battles correspond with a newfound Jets prioritization of youth. He steals a fourth-line centre job from a veteran to start the season and keeps it while playing a key role on Winnipeg’s PK.

Worst reasonable case: Winnipeg places Zhilkin on waivers with the (reasonable) expectation that he clears. He’s claimed (by a team you hate) and goes on to star in a Michael Eyssimont cover band, angering opponents and mucking it up in a depth role for somebody else.

Projection: Winnipeg retains Vladislav Namestnikov for its fourth-line centre job. Zhilkin clears waivers and continues to develop with the Moose.

Brayden Yager, C, 21

Best reasonable case: Brayden Yager accomplishes everything projected for Zhilkin a moment ago, but with more scoring. His tenacity on the fourth line earns him second unit power play time, where he produces a little bit of offence. By season’s end, Yager plays right wing on Lowry’s line and fans wonder if the Jets have found their next captain. His numbers don’t pop but Yager’s defensive commitment makes him look like a potential shutdown centre.

Worst reasonable case: Winnipeg assigns Yager to Manitoba, where he’s unable to build on last season’s 30 points in 68 AHL games. Manitoba continues to dole out icetime in an oddly democratic fashion, limiting Yager’s offensive opportunities such that his projection drops from “middle six centre” to “probable NHL player.”

Projection: Yager is assigned to the Moose and excels, putting together a quietly great AHL season, competing for the team lead in points. He earns a short Jets call-up and plays well in a depth capacity.

Garrett Brown, RD, 22

Best reasonable case: Garrett Brown continues his late-blooming, upwardly mobile trajectory as a prospect, winning an NHL job in his first attempt. The 6-foot-4 right-shot defenceman steps into the spot left vacant by Salomonsson’s injury and surprises us with great mobility, efficient puck retrievals, and crisp breakout passes. Winnipeg protects its third pair from elite opposition such that Brown is able to win his minutes right out of the gate.

Worst reasonable case: Brown struggles to adapt to professional hockey, not only in the NHL but at the AHL level, too. The two-time NCAA champion finds himself fighting for ice on a crowded Moose blue line, which is led by a demoted Salomonsson and Tyrel Bauer. Brown’s development stagnates in the absence of icetime such that his trajectory as a prospect is (prematurely) deemed to have stalled.

Projection: Brown plays a top four role for Manitoba. Growing pains exist but he’s ready for the role. He does not receive NHL consideration until he’s played a full year in the AHL, following the footsteps of fellow three-year college defenceman Dylan Samberg.

Dom DiVincentiis, G, 22

Best reasonable case: Dom DiVincentiis turns his dominant AHL playoffs into a backup role for Winnipeg — and posts solid numbers despite the quantum leap.

Worst reasonable case: DiVincentiis returns to Manitoba, where Thomas Milic has taken his game to another level. Manitoba’s timeshare turns into a hierarchical arrangement with DiVincentiis as the clear No. 2.

Projection: DiVincentiis battles with (and supports) Milic as the two young netminders rule Manitoba’s net.

Thomas Milic, G, 23

Best reasonable case: Same as above: For whatever reason, the Jets leave their No. 2 job open. Milic, who had the superior regular-season save percentage (.905) and received more starts (41) than DiVincentiis, is first in line. He excels.

Worst reasonable case: Milic returns to the Moose to find that DiVincentiis has taken his game to another level. Milic becomes the No. 2.

Projection: The timeshare continues.

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Winnipeg’s projected end-of-season 2026-27 roster

Not every player’s best-case scenario can come true. Some exist in direct conflict, as in the case of Milic and DiVincentiis, Salomonsson and Brown, and Lambert and Rosén. Keeping that in mind, here’s my projected Jets’ end-of-season roster:

We’ve reunited Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi, while re-establishing one version of Lowry’s shutdown line for Arniel. This makes room for Lambert to join the top six. Salomonsson wins his job back on defence, playing with an as-of-yet unsigned UFA, and Eric Comrie returns in goal. The No. 8 pick, which we’ll say Winnipeg makes, is not projected to make the team. This is informed by recent Jets history, but if the offseason provides a surprise forward upgrade, it will bump Barron or Lambert down the lineup.

What’s your take on the 2026-27 Jets? Let us know in the comments.