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Winnipeg Jets: Current Top Prospects in the Pipeline

By Shepard Price

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - OCTOBER 13: Kyle Connor
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - OCTOBER 13: Kyle Connor /
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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 23: Kristian Vesalainen poses for photos after being selected 24th overall by the Winnipeg Jets during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Winnipeg Jets Best Forward Prospects

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Kyle Connor, LW

Kyle Connor was drafted seventeenth overall in the 2015 entry draft. He spent the year after he was drafted with the University of Michigan, where he posted 35 goals and 71 points in 38 games.

Connor spent last season in the AHL, posting 44 points in 52 games, before being raised up to the NHL level. He spent his shortened rookie season (at 20 games, it officially qualifies) scoring 5 points including 2 goals.

But with Connor’s first full season coming up, he counts as a prospect. He’ll look to do better than his 12 minutes a night in those short 20 games, and as he does look for his point production and advanced stats to improve.

Jack Roslovic, C/RW

Roslovic was the second pick for the Winnipeg Jets in the 2015 NHL entry draft’s first round, after Kyle Connor. He was taken 25th.

Roslovic spent the year he was drafted at the University of Miami (Ohio), putting up 26 points in 36 games. He played one game in the NHL last year, but for the most part spent the year in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose.

He scored 48 points in 65 games there. Most of them were assists, of which he had 35. Roslovic has the potential to be a playmaker in the NHL, and with Kyle Connor (taken in the same round) committed to the wing, the two could make a solid NHL duo.

They could also be good alone, with Connor likely in line to play on the top six and Roslovic destined to play a depth scoring role for the Jets.

Chase De Leo, C

De Leo was a fourth-round pick by the Jets in the 2014 draft. He dominated in the WHL that year with the Portland Winterhawks and then came over to the Manitoba Moose.

His first year there, he posted 19 goals and 21 assists in 73 games, then followed it up with 14 goals and 18 assists in 69 games.

Those are Ryan Hartman-type AHL numbers, by the way. If De Leo can be a Hartman-type for the Winnipeg Jets, they would absolutely take that and run with it. Hartman had 30 points in his first year in the NHL.

If De Leo meets his potential, he could stake a claim on this NHL roster and stick around.

Erik Foley, LW

When Foley was drafted in the third round in 2015, the biggest knock on him was his size. At 6’0″ 196 pounds, that size problem has gone away. Now, Foley is a productive player continuing to develop in the NCAA.

There have been quite a few players to come out of the NCAA in recent years, and quite a few really good ones. Jake Guentzel comes to mind.

And Foley has been getting better every year he’s been in the NCAA. His first year, following a 54 point performance in 55 high school games, Foley posted 19 points and just 7 goals.

He followed that up with 34 points including 15 goals. Foley nearly doubled his production from one year to the next while playing the same amount of games – just 36.

Foley will be attending development camp this year and is still just 20. Still, he should continue his development and come to the NHL when more of the Jets roster has aged or left.

Jansen Harkins, C

Jansen Harkins drew comparisons to David Krejci during the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Harkins was taken in the 2nd round and at 47th overall. Part of that is how skinny Harkins is – at 6’2″, Harkins weighs just 194 pounds.

However, if Harkins is able to beef up, he has a two-way game that is necessary for today’s NHL. He’s got a good work ethic and hustle, and that means that Harkins should be able to put on the weight when he’s ready.

He’s been spending the last few years since his draft in the Western Hockey League with the Prince George Cougars, coming over to the AHL once the WHL playoffs were over. In 64 games last season, Harkins had 72 points including 21 goals.

Harkins also had four points in four AHL games last season. He truly is a prospect that’s nearing being ready for the Winnipeg Jets, if he’s given a roster spot to succeed.

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW

Vesalainen is a Finnish young winger playing in the top leagues in Finland and Sweden. Vesalainen never stayed in the same place for long last season, playing most of his games (26) with Frolunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League.

But in 35 games between Finland and Sweden, Vesalainen had 7 points and 1 goal. Against some of the finest talent outside of the NHL, that’s not a bad year for a teenager.

Vesalainen will play with the Finnish club – HPK – that he finished the year with next year. He’ll be able to develop his skill set in Europe before making the transition to the NHL, and he’ll be able to decide which side to play.

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