Jets 2024 development camp to take place at hockey for all centre
The Winnipeg Jets' 2024 development camp has begun from Hockey For All Centre and will conclude on Sunday, July 7.
The 35-player roster which features three goaltenders, 11 defencemen, and 21 forwards, includes prospects from the United States (8), Canada (19), Sweden (3), Finland (3), Belarus (1), and China (1).
Development camp serves as not only a good opportunity for prospects to prove themselves on the ice, but also to build relationships with their fellow peers and familiarize themselves with the city, the organization and the development staff.
With the first day of development camp beginning with opening introductions and off-ice activities, the first on-ice look at the prospects is Thursday morning, which will be open to the public for all fans to watch.
Below is the full roster for Winnipeg’s 2024 development camp:
* Represents free agent invites
Goaltenders-
Thomas Milic - New Westminster, BC.
*Alex Worthington - Waldheim, SK.
Domenic DiVincentiis - Bolton, ON.
Defencemen-
*Ben Zloty - Calgary, AB.
*Ryan Koering - Eden Prairie, MN.
Dylan Anhorn - Calgary, AB.
Alfons Freij - Solvesborg, SWE.
Elias Salomonsson - Skellefteå, SWE.
Dmitry Kuzmin - Kholstovo, BLR.
Garrett Brown - San Jose, CA.
*Ben Robertson - Potomac Falls, VA.
*Graham Sward - Langley, BC.
*Frank Djurasevic - New Rochelle, NY.
*Hunter Mayo - Martensville, SK.
Forwards-
*Gavin Hodnett - Winnipeg, MB.
*Max Namestnikov - Wolverine, MI.
Kevin He - Beijing, CHN.
Colby Barlow - Orillia, ON.
Chaz Lucius - Lawrence, KS.
Danny Zhilkin - Toronto, ON.
*Cole Huckins - Fredericton, NB.
Fabian Wagner - Nyköping, SWE.
Zach Nehring - Minot, ND.
Markus Loponen - Oulu, FIN.
Jacob Julien - London, ON.
Connor Levis - Vancouver, BC.
Kieron Walton - Toronto, ON.
Carson Golder - Smithers, BC.
*Kyle Penney - Cole Harbour, NS.
Brad Lambert - Lahti, FIN.
*Kieran Cebrian - Denver, CO.
*Ty Daneault - Red Deer, AB.
*Nathan Brown - Winnipeg, MB.
*Luke Mistelbacher - Steinbach, MB.
*Tommi Mannisto - Riihimaki, FIN.
Jets fans will be excited to catch another glimpse of Thomas Milic, Elias Salomonsson, Brad Lambert, and Colby Barlow, all top prospects in Winnipeg’s system who are attending development camp for the second-straight year.
Drafted last year by Winnipeg in the fifth round, 151st overall, Milic spent most of his time last season with the Manitoba Moose and is expected to have an even bigger role in the crease next season, where he will likely share the net with former Moose netminder Eric Comrie.
Winnipeg’s second pick in 2022, Elias Salomonsson, played in the Swedish Hockey League last season for Skellefteå AIK as a shutdown defenceman, and will slide into the same role next season with the Manitoba Moose, playing top-pairing minutes.
Brad Lambert (the biggest faller in the 2022 NHL draft) has proved to Mark Hillier and the rest of the Jets scouting staff that taking him 30th overall was the best decision they ever could have made. Lambert posted 55 points in just 64 games last season with the Manitoba Moose, placing second overall in AHL rookie scoring, only trailing Logan Stankoven. With some spots opening up in Winnipeg’s lineup up-front, there's a chance Lambert could earn a spot with the big club next season.
Jets' 2023 first round pick Colby Barlow produced 40 goals and 58 points for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack last season. Barlow eventually got his first taste of pro-level hockey after playing some games for the Moose at the end of the season, where he grabbed three points in three games. Barlow will play full-time for Manitoba next season, slotting into its top-six up-front.
Other names Jets fans will be looking out for in this week’s development camp are the four players selected last weekend in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas. With a number of picks missing in this year’s draft, including a first rounder (first time since 2018), Winnipeg only made four selections: Swedish defenceman Alfons Freij (37th overall), Niagara Ice Dogs forward Kevin He (109th overall), Finnish centre Markus Loponen (155th overall), and Sudbury Wolves centre Kieron Walton (187th overall).
Selected in the second round, Alfons Freij has the highest upside of all Winnipeg’s selections in this year’s draft. Set to play in the second-highest professional league in Sweden next season, Freij will get a good opportunity for development playing against men, before likely spending the next season with the Moose. Freij’s style of play has been frequently compared to that of his fellow countryman, Salomonsson: elite puck-moving abilities, an effective skater, and steady defensive play.
One free agent invitee with an interesting connection to the Jets is Guelph Storm left-winger Max Namestnikov, a name that should have immediately jumped off the page for many fans. Max is the younger brother of Vladislav Namestnikov, a veteran forward on the Jets. Max posted 50 points in 68 for Guelph last season, and if he shows well in development camp, he may be able to earn an opportunity with a very young Moose lineup this season.
Two top players in Winnipeg’s prospect pipeline will be absent from camp this year: University of Michigan forward Rutger McGroarty and Manitoba Moose forward Nikita Chibrikov.
Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff mentioned in his media availability on July 1st, after Day 1 of free agency, that Chibrikov won’t be attending development camp because of his commitments to school back in Russia, his home country.
As for Jets' top prospect McGroarty, his situation is significantly more complicated.
According to multiple reports (courtesy of Elliotte Friedman and The Athletic), Winnipeg’s 14th overall pick in 2022 no longer wants to be a part of the Winnipeg Jets organization due to differing opinions on his path to the NHL.
After wrapping up his college season with Michigan last season, McGroarty’s camp was in discussion with the Jets regarding getting him over to Winnipeg and playing for the Jets. Winnipeg apparently wanted to sign him but couldn’t guarantee him a roster spot, meaning they would have placed him in the AHL to play for the Moose if he couldn’t land a defined role with the Jets. It’s also important to keep in mind that during this process, the Jets were fighting for second-place in the Central Division so they could secure home ice advantage come playoff time.
With both sides disagreeing on McGroarty’s path to the Jets, his camp has reportedly reached out to Winnipeg, letting them know he no longer wants to be a part of the organization, which is why he isn’t attending this year’s development camp.
There's also some belief that McGroarty’s agents are using this development path disagreement as a distraction from the fact that, as a U.S.-born player, McGroarty never intended on coming to play in Winnipeg in the first place. Because this situation is ongoing, the truth of the matter is still up in the air, but if one thing is clear, it’s that McGroarty’s future appears to no longer be with the Jets.
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