Fab February for Jets goalie prospects

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This article was published 03/03/2024 (825 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They may largely be out of sight. But nearly two dozen Winnipeg Jets prospects are definitely not out of mind for the organization.

It’s hard to remember a time the future talent pool was as deep as it currently is. As such, the Free Press will be tracking the progress of these players during the season.

Here is our latest update:

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The Michigan Wolverines have tumbled to No. 16 in the national rankings and face a challenging playoff path thanks to mediocre play in their own conference.

All of which could be very good news for the Winnipeg Jets and their top young forward prospect, Rutger McGroarty.

It’s possible McGroarty’s college hockey season could end sooner than expected — we’re talking later this month — which could open the door for the him to join the NHL team for the final stretch of the regular-season and beyond.

What a jolt of energy and excitement that could provide.

McGroarty, 19, continues to put up huge numbers for his team, now with 45 points (14 goals, 31 assists) in 29 games. That includes a goal and two assists on Saturday night as his Wolverines beat No. 8 ranked University of Minnesota 6-5 in overtime.

McGroarty, selected 14th-overall by the Jets in 2022, is among the front-runners for the prestigious Hobey Baker, given out annually to the top NCAA player.

With the NHL trade deadline this coming Friday, one wonders how much of a factor McGroarty’s potential addition is factoring into GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s plans — especially since he plays right-wing, which is viewed as an area in need of an upgrade for the Jets.

Sure, it might be unfair to expect a kid to come right out of college and immediately make an impact. But McGroarty is no ordinary prospect, illustrated by the fact he captained the U.S. World Junior team to a gold medal in early January, mere weeks after suffering an on-ice injury that left him hospitalized.

Michigan finished fourth in the Big 10 standings and will play the fifth-place club, Notre Dame, this coming weekend in a best-of-three series. The winner advances to the Big 10 semifinal on March 16 against first-place Michigan State, with the championship final taking place on March 23.

The Wolverines would love to qualify for the 2024 Frozen Four tournament, which begins March 28 and concludes Apr. 13, However, that’s no longer the slam-dunk it appeared to be when the season began.

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Another player who could join the Jets organization in the not-too-distant future is defenceman Elias Salomonsson, a second-round pick from 2022. Playoffs in the Swedish Hockey League start next week (and run through until late April), although Salmonsson’s club (Skelleftea) is currently third out of 14 teams, so perhaps a lengthy run is in order.

The smooth-skating, puck-moving 19-year-old, who has the added bonus of being a right-shot (something the Jets are certainly in short supply of) now has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) through 27 games this year, along with a pair of suspensions for overly physical play.

Four of those points have come in the last seven games.

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Stick taps to Domenic DiVincentiis, who has completely turned his season around with a fabulous February that recently had him named the OHL’s goaltender of the month.

A spiffy 7-1 record and 2.39 goals-against-average with the North Bay Battalion has the 19-year-old back on track after a tough start. Overall, he is 21-9-4 with a 3.22 GAA and .891 save-percentage.

Sticking with junior hockey, 2023 first-rounder Colby Barlow continues to be red-hot after battling a serious back injury early in the year. Barlow had 19 points (13 goals, six assists) in 14 games last month with the Owen Sound Attack, and now has 49 points (32 goals, 17 assists) through 41 OHL games this year.

How about Jacob Julien, the fifth-round pick from 2023, who is now up to 71 points (24 goals, 47 assists) through 59 games with the London Knights. The six-foot-three, 170 pound winger only had 16 points last season in 40 games, so this has been quite the offensive explosion.

Over in the WHL, Connor Levis (7th round, 2023) has made himself at home with the Vancouver Giants following a mid-season trade, with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 19 games. This, after putting up 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 37 games with the Kamloops Blazers.

It hasn’t been nearly as productive a year for 18-year-old Zach Nehring (third round, 2023) who started strong in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede (two goals, two assists in his first 11 games), but now has just one goal and two assists in the last 21 he’s played. He’s considered a longer-term project.

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Down to the farm we go, where the kids on the Manitoba Moose continue to lead the way.

Nikita Chibrikov (second round, 2021) tops all forwards in scoring with 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 50 AHL games this year. Brad Lambert (first round, 2022) is just behind him with 33 points (16 goals 17 assists) in 45 games.

That is some impressive stuff from a pair of undersized but extremely skilled rookies finding their way in the second-best league in the world. Their futures would appear to be very bright.

As for their teammates:

Goaltender Thomas Milic, who has put up terrific first-year numbers in the ECHL and was named an All-Star in that league, was recently called up to the Moose to act as a tandem with journeyman Collin Delia, pushing the struggling Oskari Salminen down to the ECHL.

Milic, 20, had gone 11-3-3 with a 2.45 goals against average and .908 save percentage in the ECHL, and is now 6-5-1 with a 2.95 GAA and .897 SV% with the Moose.

How about Henri Nikannen, who began the year with no points in 35 games, scored his first goal of the year on Saturday against the Texas Stars, then added a goal and two assists on Sunday in the rematch at Canada Life Centre. A pretty nice weekend for the 22-year-old, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2019.

Defenceman Simon Lundmark (two goals, seven assists assists in 46 games), forward Daniel Torgersson (one goal, five assists in 38 games) and defenceman Tyrel Bauer (one goal, four assists in 45 games) are the other active skaters with the Moose.

Chaz Lucius (2021 first-rounder) has been shut down for the year after undergoing ankle surgery. He finished with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 17 games. Forward Danny Zhilkin (two goals, five assists in 44 games) has also had his season cut short due to injury. And defenceman Dmitry Kuzmin (two assists in 10 games with the Moose) is now back in the ECHL, with seven points (two goals, five assists) in 21 games with the Norfolk Admirals.

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Finally, a few other players currently in the system:

G Logan Neaton (5th round, 2019) — The 24-year-old is now the backup at Miami University, going 6-11-2 in 19 starts with a 3.01 GAA and .902 SV%.

F Harrison Blaisdell (5th round, 2019) — Now in his third season with the University of New Hampshire after two years with the University of North Dakota, the 22-year-old recently returned from injury. He has 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in 27 games.

D Garrett Brown (4th round, 2022) — After playing the last three years in the USHL, his first year at the University of Denver ended after just eight games due to a lower-body injury that required surgery. The son of former NHLer Curtis Brown had four assists.

F Fabian Wagner (6th round, 2022) — A defensive forward who had no points in seven World Junior games with Sweden, Wagner has put up five points (one goal, five assists) in 37 games playing in the top men’s league.

F Dmitry Rashevsky (5th round, 2021) — Now in his fourth season in the KHL, the 23-year-old has set a new career high with 24 goals in 67 games. (His previous best was 19 in 67 games last year). Rashevsky also has 19 assists to tie his career high, and his 43 points are also career-bests.

D Anton Johannesson (5th round, 2020) — He’s bounced between the Swedish junior league (two goals, three assists in seven games) and Swedish men’s league, where he has posted seven assists in 27 games so far with Brynas IF.

mike.mcintytre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg