Winnipeg Jets: Top 8 prospects worth getting excited about
Which Winnipeg Jets prospects could make an impact in the future?
The Winnipeg Jets are in an odd spot as a franchise. After having one of the best rosters in the entire NHL over the past few seasons, they found themselves in a tough spot this season after losing key defenders in Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, and Tyler Myers.
As a result, their overall team play took a hit. However, thanks to the play of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, along with some of their top forwards, they were able to still find themselves in the top wild-card position by the time the NHL season was forced to end due to COVID-19.
Kevin Cheveldayoff and his staff are now in a very tricky spot. Do they continue to try and capture a Stanley Cup, or look to go into somewhat of a rebuild/retool? Unfortunately, they do not have the luxury of having a deep prospect pool compared to a team like the Ottawa Senators. However, they do still have some prospects worth getting excited about. Here are the top 8.
One quick reminder is that on these lists I am not including players who have played more NHL games than any other league for the past season, which explains David Gustafsson’s omission.
8. Logan Stanley
The former first-round pick Logan Stanley is beginning to feel like somewhat of an afterthought in the Jets prospect pool. The massive 6-foot-7 defenceman was selected 18th overall by Winnipeg at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. While his 17 points in 64 games for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL certainly didn’t jump off the page, he was able to use his big frame to dominate in the defensive end.
He has taken some time to develop, as he spent another two seasons in junior before making the jump to professional hockey for the 2018-19 season. Again, his stats have not been impressive, as he has put up a combined 32 points in 117 games. While he will never be an offensive threat, he will get a chance with the Jets at some point due to his size. Though some are already calling the 22-year-old a bust, he still has time to change that narrative.
7. Jansen Harkins
The 2019-20 season was by far and away the most successful of Jansen Harkins’ professional career. After putting up just 31 points in 70 AHL games during the 2018-19 season, the 23-year-old was able to put up that same total in just 30 games this season. As a result of his great play, he also got minutes in the NHL for the first time in his career, playing in 29 games where he put up two goals and five assists.
This was a big step for the 47th pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, as many had begun to write him off as a prospect. However, he will need to find a way to put up more offence at the NHL level if he wants to become a full-time roster player. He certainly has a chance to do so, but given his age it needs to happen fairly soon.
6. Leon Gawanke
One of the hardest players to rank on this list was Leon Gawanke. The 21-year-old defenceman has seemed to improve drastically every season since he was taken in the fifth-round (136 overall) at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. At the time of being drafted, he had just finished his rookie season with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL, scoring eight goals and 32 points in 54 games.
By the time his third and final season in junior hockey had finished, he had improved his offensive game tremendously, putting up 17 goals and 57 points in just 62 games.
However, given that the fact that the QMJHL tends to be a league where many players put up big numbers offensively, there were questions regarding how he would do in his first season of professional hockey. He responded to those questions in a big way, putting up in impressive 26 points in 48 games. He will be an interesting player to keep an eye on next season.
5. Arvid Holm
Not much was known about goaltender Arvid Holm when the Jets selected him 167th at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, he was only beginning to make his way up the ranks in his home country of Sweden. The 2016-17 season saw him play in the SuperElit league in Sweden, where he posted a fairly average 2.91 GAA and a .906 SV%.
Though those numbers do not pop off the page, Holm has improved in a big way, including massive strides taken this past season. The 21-year-old played in his first full season in the SHL and gave the Jets organization a real reason to get excited, as he put up a 2.27 GAA and a .914 SV%, along with a 20-10-0 record. The fantastic season has shot him way up the Jets top prospects list.
4. Dylan Samberg
Dylan Samberg has been one of the most exciting prospects in the Jets system since the day they selected him in the second round (43 overall) at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old just finished up his third season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth and put up his best totals to date. In 28 games this year, the 6-foot-4 defenceman posted 21 points.
Samberg signed with the Jets shortly after his team’s 2019-20 season ended, meaning he will play pro hockey next season, although it remains to be seen at what level. While it is likely he will need some seasoning in the AHL, he may end up being in the NHL sooner than later in large part due to the Jets’ weak blueline.
3. Kristian Vesalainen
Kristian Vesalainen, who was taken by the Jets with the 24th pick at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, has had some problems adapting to the North American game. Everyone was very high on this player after a season in the SM-liiga as an 18-year-old in which he put up 43 points in 49 games.
The next season saw him bounce around as he played in games in the NHL, AHL, as well as the KHL. While his numbers weren’t overly impressive in either of the three leagues, many pointed to the fact that he was still just 19-years-old and would likely benefit from a full season in the AHL.
That full season came in the AHL this year, and while it wasn’t a complete disaster his numbers weren’t what many had expected. The recently turned 21-year-old was only able to put up 12 goals and 18 assists in 60 games played.
While those numbers are certainly disappointing, it should be noted that the entire Manitoba Moose squad struggled this season, as their leading scorer only recorded 41 points. This next season will be huge for Vesalainen; if he struggles, he could slide right off this list, but if he is able to fully adjust to the North American game, he may find himself in the NHL very shortly.
2. Declan Chisholm
You likely won’t find a fifth-round pick from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft that is showing as much promise as Declan Chisholm is at this point. The 150th overall pick had a huge year for the Peterborough Petes this season with 13 goals and 69 points in just 59 games played. This was a massive improvement from 2018-19 season, just a year prior, in which he put up an already impressive 48 points in 67 games.
The sky appears to be the limit for the 20-year-old Chisholm. Though it is still early, he is showing all sorts of potential, and not just at the offensive end of the ice. He has been praised for his play in the defensive end, as well as his terrific skating ability. He will make the transition to professional hockey next season and may get to see some time with the Jets.
1. Ville Heinola
The Jets first-round pick in 2019, Ville Heinola, has a chance to be a very high impact NHLer. He already appeared in 8 NHL games this season, where he was able to show just how talented he is, recording one goal and four assists. He also appeared in 29 games in the SM-liiga, which is extremely impressive for any 18-year-old player, let alone a defenceman.
Heinola also gave the Jets fans a glimpse of the future during this year’s World Junior tournament, where he had five assists in seven games played. Though he may still need a few more seasons before he is truly ready, there is no question the now 19-year-old has massive potential and if the Jets develop him properly, he has a chance to become a star in the NHL.