As we enter the third month of the Nationwide Hockey League season, I figured now can be pretty much as good of a time as ever to follow-up on my Winnipeg Jets’ High 10 Prospects piece I wrote again in August and see the place the 10 gamers are at with their revered golf equipment.
It’s attention-grabbing to see among the gamers on this record change into
disappointments to begin the 2019-20 season and others surprisingly exceed
expectations, making their argument to get moved up the record for subsequent summer time’s
version.
Associated: Winnipeg Jets’ High Prospects #11-20
To recap the foundations I used for the top-10 prospect record, the gamers should have appeared in fewer than 30 video games on the NHL degree previous to the 2019-20 season, or be beneath the age of 26. Sami Niku, Mason Appleton, and Tucker Poolman had been all ineligible for this record, in any other case sure, they might be on it. With these guidelines now lined once more, let’s get you up to date.
10 – Michael Spacek (C/RW)
2019-20 Groups: Manitoba Moose (AHL) / Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
Michael Spacek was not capable of safe a spot on the Jets’ 2019-20 opening evening roster after going pointless in 4 preseason video games. He was despatched again to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League on Sept. 27. It was a giant disappointment for the 22-year-old as he believed he was extra prepared than ever to make the soar to the NHL this season.
🎥“I’m a bit older, and have a bit extra expertise now, and really feel extra assured.”Michael Spacek speaks with the media forward of tonight’s recreation in Calgary in opposition to the Flames. pic.twitter.com/IsvuAc2I7v— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) September 24, 2019Spacek has registered three objectives and 4 assists in 14 video games with the Moose thus far this season. He earned himself a call-up to the Jets on Nov. 13 and was despatched again to the Moose on Dec. four. He didn’t seem in any video games with the membership throughout that span.
9 – Mikhail Berdin (G)
2019-20 Workforce: Manitoba Moose (AHL)
Mikhail Berdin didn’t get a lot of a search for the Jets this
previous preseason, solely showing in a single recreation and stopping all 13 photographs he confronted.
The Jets appeared content material giving goaltenders Connor Hellebuyck, Laurent Brossoit,
and Eric Comrie the grunt of the work.
Mikhail Berdin is shortly changing into a top-ranked prospect for the Jets. (Jenae Anderson / The Hockey Writers)
Berdin was despatched again to the Moose the place he shortly turned the brand new starter after Comrie bought scooped up on waivers by the Arizona Coyotes.
The 21-year-old has performed in 20 video games for the Moose thus far this
season and he presently sits with 2.55 objectives in opposition to common and a .921 save
proportion. He has turned a whole lot of heads along with his robust play as of late and
has been a giant cause within the Moose turning their season round in November. He
could have a superb probability to compete for the Jets’ backup job subsequent season.
eight – Giovanni Vallati (LD)
2019-20 Workforce: Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Giovanni Vallati didn’t seem in any of the Jets’
preseason video games this yr and was despatched again to the Oshawa Generals of the
Ontario Hockey League on Sept. 20.
Giovanni Vallati of the Oshawa Generals. (Terry Wilson / OHL Photos)
He has appeared in 24 video games for them thus far, registering 10 assists. His level whole tempo is a bit down from the career-high numbers he set final season when he put up 48 factors in 68 with the membership. He has nonetheless been enjoying some good hockey and he’s a giant a part of the crew that was as soon as ranked the highest Canadian Hockey League crew again in October.
7 – Leon Gawanke (RD)
2019-20 Workforce: Manitoba Moose (AHL)
Leon Gawanke signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Jets again in Could however he didn’t seem in any video games this previous preseason. He was despatched again to the Moose on Sept. 25 and has been enjoying with them since.
Gawanke has appeared in 12 video games with the Moose thus far this season, registering one aim, 4 assists, and a plus-three ranking. He presently averages two photographs per recreation and has been enjoying a strong two-way recreation for the membership.
6 – David Gustafsson (C)
2019-20 Workforce: Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
David Gustafsson was one of many large surprises of Jets’ coaching camp this yr. He appeared in 5 preseason video games and was held pointless however Paul Maurice and the remainder of the employees favored his play regardless.
After making the Jets’ opening evening, 23-man roster, Gustafsson was a wholesome scratch to begin the season. After what most likely appeared like a protracted look forward to him, he lastly bought his probability on Oct. 15 in opposition to the Coyotes and has not seemed again since.
Gustafsson has since performed in each recreation for the Jets and he lately registered his first NHL level when he scored in opposition to the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 27. He has performed a fourth-line position with restricted minutes, however I actually like what he has completed throughout that point. He’s a man who can push for the second-line middle spot as early as subsequent season.
5 – Logan Stanley (LD)
2019-20 Workforce: Manitoba Moose (AHL)
Logan Stanley is now in his second full-time season with the Moose after failing to crack the Jets’ lineup as soon as once more. He appeared in three preseason video games and the membership clearly felt he wants extra time within the AHL to develop his recreation.
Logan Stanley is again from his wrist damage and enjoying nicely for the Moose. (Jenae Anderson / The Hockey Writers)
Stanley has solely appeared in 9 video games for the Moose this season after struggling a wrist damage in October. Nevertheless, he’s again within the lineup now and he has registered one aim and two assists thus far within the 2019-20 marketing campaign.
I believe we might probably see him play some video games with the Jets this season if their accidents persist. In any other case, will probably be one other coaching camp in 2020-21 for Stanley to offer it one other shot.
four – Declan Chisholm (LD)
2019-20 Workforce: Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Declan Chisholm didn’t seem in any preseason video games for the Jets this season. He was despatched again to the Peterborough Petes in September and has been dominating ever since.
Declan Chisholm is presently main the OHL for factors by a defenseman. (Aaron Bell/OHL Photos)
Chisholm has 32 factors in 26 video games thus far this season for the Petes and he’s presently the highest-scoring defenseman in the complete OHL to date.
He has lately made headlines for being left off the Workforce Canada choice camp roster for the upcoming World Juniors on the finish of December. Many individuals, myself included, had been shocked to see the 19-year-old’s identify left off the record.
three – Ville Heinola (LD)
2019-20 Groups: Winnipeg Jets (NHL) / Manitoba Moose (AHL) /
Lukko (Liiga)
Ville Heinola was one other large shock this season after he
was drafted by the Jets 20th general in final summer time’s NHL Entry Draft. He had
a formidable coaching camp and cracked the Jets’ opening evening lineup in opposition to
the New York Rangers on Oct. three.
Ville Heinola will look to develop his recreation in Finland for the remainder of the 2019-20 season. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Heinola performed eight video games with the Jets earlier than being despatched all the way down to the Moose on Oct. 31 and he was arguably one of many Jets’ greatest defensemen throughout his quick time with the membership. He racked up 5 factors in these video games with a plus-three ranking and he performed some large minutes, as nicely.
The Jets clearly didn’t need to burn the primary yr of his three-year, entry-level contract and Heinola clearly needed to return to Finland quite than play with the Moose. He was despatched again to his 2018-19 crew Lukko on Nov. eight after enjoying three video games with the Moose.
Anticipate him to return to the Jets’ top-four protection group within the 2020-21 season and he ought to play for Workforce Finland on the upcoming World Junior Championships.
2 – Dylan Samberg (LD)
2019-20 Workforce: College of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
Dylan Samberg didn’t seem in Jets’ coaching camp this
season and as everyone knows, selected to return to the Minnesota-Duluth of the NCAA
for an additional season.
The Jets have to discover a method to get Dylan Samberg of their lineup subsequent season. (Credit score: Brett Groehler)
Samberg is as soon as once more a giant a part of their group this season. Minnesota-Duluth received the championship in each 2018 and 2019 with Samberg as part of the membership. In all places the younger man performs he wins, as he was additionally an enormous a part of Hermantown Excessive successful their championship in 2017.
The Jets will try to take one other crack at signing the 20-year-old subsequent summer time. If he opts to not signal as soon as once more and performs his remaining yr within the NCAA he’ll change into an unrestricted free agent in 2021. Right here’s to hoping they signal him as a result of I predict he’ll change into an absolute stud within the NHL for years to come back.
1 – Kristian Vesalainen (LW)
2019-20 Workforce: Manitoba Moose (AHL)
Kristian Vesalainen was the most important disappointment at Jets’ coaching camp this season. His 2018-19 season again in Europe clearly didn’t serve him nicely and he nearly appeared to have misplaced a step this time round.
Kristian Vesalainen is beginning to warmth up for the Manitoba Moose. (Jenae Anderson / The Hockey Writers)
Vesalainen has performed the complete 2019-20 season with the Moose to date, registering 10 factors in 24 video games performed. He began the season gradual for them however he has picked up his play as of late, registering six factors in his final 10 video games.
Associated: Jets Weekly: Little, Heinola, Line Shuffling & Extra
The Jets have used a whole lot of call-ups from the Moose thus far this season and it’s no shock Vesalainen has not been one in every of them but. I believe he might want to take some main strides within the AHL earlier than getting a sniff of the NHL once more this season. For what it’s price, I hope he does flip issues again round as I had/nonetheless have very excessive hopes for the 20-year-old Finn.
