Towards the end of last season, the Winnipeg Jets made some adjustments to their roster, bringing up young talent to see what they had at the NHL level. One of the names recalled from the minors was Brad Lambert.
The former 2022 first-round pick got the call for 25 games last season, his largest NHL stint yet after appearing in just five and one games at the NHL level over the two prior seasons, respectively. Lambert finished the season with three goals and three assists for six points, hardly the kind of impact that quiets questions, leaving Jets fans wondering what comes next for the 22-year-old.
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Lambert is slated to make Winnipeg’s opening night roster, according to Elite Prospects, where he’ll look to secure his longest look yet at the NHL level and could slot in on the wing rather than at center, a shift that’s been floated as a way to simplify his role and let his speed and skating ability play a bigger part in his offensive game.
Daily Faceoff projects Lambert to open the season on the third line alongside Isak Rosen on the opposite wing, with Vladislav Namestnikov centering the trio, an intriguing look for Winnipeg’s bottom six.
Lambert will likely cycle through different line combinations before the Jets land on something that sticks, as has often been the case throughout his brief NHL career so far.
The best-case scenario is a middle-six role, one that could even see him get chances on the second line and further opportunities to adjust to the pace of the NHL. The worst-case outcome would be a fourth-line role, or another trip back down to the AHL if things don’t click early.
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It’s difficult to project exactly what Winnipeg will get out of Lambert this season, but a full, uninterrupted look figures to provide the biggest sample size yet of his game.
With his entry-level contract set to expire after this season and restricted free agency looming in 2027, how Lambert performs will likely be one of the more closely watched storylines for the Jets heading into the year.
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