NHL Prospect Pool 2024-25: The Winnipeg Jets' Pipeline depth Is Strong With or Without McGroarty

McGroarty The captain of the American world junior team and one of the best players on the Michigan Wolverines, is one of the Jets' best prospects. After putting up 52 points in 36 games in college, he seemed ready to step right into a top six role for the Winnipeg Jets. When McGroarty didn't get the call up, he requested a trade which came as a shock to many.

A trade has not materialized for the young prospect, and McGroarty remains a part of the Winnipeg Jets organization despite some rumored close calls.

McGroarty has shown determined off-pack takeaway skills and has the ability to strike at crucial moments in the game. He has an impressive ability to constantly find the score sheet and continues to be in poised around the net in the high scoring areas. He has also demonstrated poise with the puck to allow himself additional time to create a pass. If the Jets do decide to trade McGoarty, they can expect to nice return for the budding prospect.

Colby Barlow During the 2021-22 season, in his first year with the Owen Sound Attack, Barlow broke the team's record for goals scored by an underage player in his first season, when he finished with 30 goals and 47 points. During the 2022-23 season, Barlow served as captain for the Sound Attack and recorded 46 goals and 33 assists in 59 games. Colby Barlow won the Bobby Smith Trophy and was named the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. With some additional growth and a few NHL seasons under his belt, Barlow may look to be every bit the top line forward they saw when drafted him

Nikita Chibrikov Last season after leaving Russia to join the AHL's Manitoba Moose, put up a solid rookie season of 47 points in 70 games. He uses tremendous speed to apply pressure on the opposing defense and is paired with high-end puck handling abilities. Chibrikov was called up for one NHL game this past season and scored in his debut. He looks to be on the right path.

Thomas Milic & Domenic DiVincentiis The Jets have a solid duo in goal with these two. Splitting the season between the AHL and ECHL, Milic has shown that he handle the crease at the pro level, posting good numbers in goal and seems poised to take the next jump to the NHL. DiVincentiis, played his third OHL season and had an up and down year compared to years previous, but his track record has been more than fantastic to this point in his development, so look for a bounce back year. This duo looks to be solid and should give the Jets the ability to find a solid backup in goal behind star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Only time will tell for these two promising young net-minders.

Other notable prospects:
-Cole Perfetti
-Brad Lambert
-Chaz Lucius
-Danny Zhilkin
-Fabian Wagner

2024 NHL Draft Class:

Round 2, 37th overall - Alfons Freij, LD, Vaxjo Jr. (Swe.)

Round 4, 109th overall - Kevin He, LW, Niagara (OHL)

Round 5, 155th overall - Markus Loponen, C, Karpat Jr. (Fin.)

Round 6, 187th overall - Kieron Walton, C, Sudbury (OHL)