The Jets have been competitive in recent years, and while they haven’t picked high, they’ve still kept several first-round picks. Thus, their system isn’t depleted, but it’s not full of premier talent and top pick Chaz Lucius’ recent retirement from hockey didn’t help matters either.

2024 ranking: 24

2025 NHL Draft grade: C+

Player Ranking

1. Sascha Boumedienne, D

Jan. 17, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 183 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 28 in 2025
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Boumedienne went to school as a 17-year-old, and it was a major adjustment as the youngest player in the NCAA, but he was better in the second half of the season as a top-four defenseman on a top BU team. He was also one of the best defensemen at the U18 worlds. His skating gets you excited about his NHL projection. He has NHL foot speed and edge work, and his stride gets him around the ice effortlessly. He closes on gaps and retrieves pucks like a pro. His puck game is good, but not amazing. He makes plays and has above-average skills, but he doesn’t project as a major offensive type at the higher levels, and his decision-making with the puck can be questionable at times. The hope with Boumedienne is that with his skating, he can be a steady first-pass type who can make stops and eat minutes, even if he doesn’t truly stand out at either end.

2. Brayden Yager, C

Jan. 3, 2005 | 6-feet | 170 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 14 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Yager was a top forward in the WHL this season, wrapping up a promising junior career. He’s a talented forward, albeit one who lacks spectacular elements. He skates and handles the puck very well, can make plays and has a big shot from range with a smooth weight transfer in his release. For a 6-foot forward, I don’t see him as a true driver of offense at higher levels, which isn’t ideal. Rather, he’s a hardworking center who can create some offense and be a player coaches rely on at both ends. He projects as a middle-six forward or a potential third-line center.

3. Colby Barlow, LW

Feb. 14, 2005 | 6-foot-1 | 194 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 18 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Barlow’s start to the season went quite poorly, but his game picked up as the year went along, especially in the playoffs for Oshawa. Barlow isn’t the flashiest player by any means. He’s a good skater and puck handler, but he doesn’t project to break down NHL defensemen with his puck play. Barlow’s calling card is his shot. He has a bullet one-timer and was a constant threat throughout his OHL career to score from the dots. He’s a hard worker with a decent frame who will be able to win puck battles. His offensive inconsistency is a concern, and there’s a chance he can’t make enough plays to stick in an NHL lineup, but he’s such a gifted goal-scorer that if he scores 15-20 annually, he could be a middle-six winger.

4. Elias Salomonsson, D

Aug. 31, 2004 | 6-foot-2 | 185 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 55 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Salomonsson had a successful first season in North America as a top player for Manitoba in the AHL. He’s a two-way defenseman who has the skating and compete level to close on a lot of pucks and kill plays. He makes a reliable first pass and has a great one-timer that could beat NHL goalies. I don’t think he’s a highly intelligent puck-mover and doubt he will be an NHL power-play guy, but he could have secondary offense. He could be a third-pair defenseman in the NHL.

5. Nikita Chibrikov, LW

Feb. 16, 2003 | 5-foot-10 | 172 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 50 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Chibrikov was having a solid second AHL season in Manitoba prior to a season-ending injury in January. He also had a quality NHL stint for four games with Winnipeg. The pace of the NHL level is a concern for a player like Chibrikov. He’s small and not fast, although he’s quite agile and has good edge work. The positives are that he’s a very skilled and intelligent winger who makes a lot of difficult plays with the puck. Despite his size/speed issues, he could play in the NHL due to his high work rate and not shying away from contact.

6. Brad Lambert, C

Dec. 19, 2003 | 6-feet | 183 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 30 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average

Analysis: Lambert is a talented but frustrating player. After a great first season in the AHL, his second season was a disappointment. Lambert has clear NHL speed and skill. When he winds up with the puck, he can fly by opponents. I don’t think Lambert is the most natural playmaker, but he sees the ice well enough. In his best games, he looks like a clear NHL forward. His work ethic and consistency have been issues for years, though. He stays on the perimeter too much as well.

7. Kieron Walton, C

April 22, 2006 | 6-foot-6 | 212 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 187 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Walton had a very impressive third OHL season, scoring 92 points for Sudbury. He’s got a clear NHL toolkit. He’s 6-foot-6, and skates very well for a big man. He also has legit puck skills. When he’s coming up the ice with speed, and with the way he can take on defensemen one-on-one, he looks like a player who can generate NHL entries. On his best shifts and games, he looks like a middle-six winger in the NHL. He can be a little inconsistent with his effort level, and despite his size, he doesn’t play overly mean or get to the middle. His shot is excellent, with a one-timer that can beat NHL goalies. He projects as a bottom-six winger.

Has a chance to play*

Alfons Freij is a mobile defenseman with a high skill level. He has a great point shot as well. His decision-making, though, can be questionable. Kevin He is a very good skater with a great shot. His size and vision are concerns.

Alfons Freij, D

Feb. 12, 2006 | 6-foot-1 | 196 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 37 in 2024

Kevin He, LW

April 30, 2006 | 6-feet | 181 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 109 in 2024

Viktor Klingsell, LW

Feb. 10, 2007 | 5-foot-10 |187 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 156 in 2025

Markus Loponen, C

June 17, 2006 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 155 in 2024

Thomas Milic, G

April 14, 2003 | 6-feet | 179 pounds | Catches left | Drafted: No. 151 in 2023

Zachary Nehring, RW

March 7, 2005 | 6-foot-3 | 179 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 82 in 2023

* Listed in alphabetical order

Player eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.

Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.

Tier definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic. Photo: Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images)