The Winnipeg Jets have recalled top prospect Brayden Yager following the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ elimination from the Western Hockey League (WHL) Conference Finals.
The Hurricanes defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings and Calgary Hitmen before being swept by Gavin McKenna and the Medicine Hat Tigers. It concluded Yager’s WHL career and will mark the beginning of his professional hockey career.
Yager won the 2024 WHL Championship with his first WHL team, the Moose Jaw Warriors, before being traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2024-25 after 21 games. It wasn’t Yager’s first big trade of the season either, as he was dealt in a one-for-one swap from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Rutger McGroarty.
Before the big trade to the Hurricanes, Yager posted 30 points (11G, 19A) in his final 21 games with Moose Jaw. After the trade, he posted 52 points (14G, 38A) in 33 games for Lethbridge. He added 14 points (8G, 6A) in 16 WHL playoff games before the Hurricanes were eliminated.
His WHL career highs came in the 2023-24 season when he posted 95 points (35G, 60A) in 57 games. He added 27 points (11G, 16A) in 20 playoff games that WHL Championship-winning season.
Yager has yet to make his NHL debut and likely won’t until 2025-26 at some point in the season.
Since his recall on Friday, May 2nd, Yager has been skating with the Winnipeg Jets taxi squad back in Winnipeg while the team played game six in St. Louis.
The series between the Jets and Blues returns to Canada Life Centre for the big winner-take-all game seven. Puck drop is set for 6:00 pm CST.
ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink
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