What have the Jets got in prospect Brayden Yager?

The Jets did very well to land a top prospect in return for Rutger McGroarty. The Jets stayed patient and found the right partner to ensure they didn't lose one of their most important future assets for anything less than equal value.

Yager has a dynamic skill element to him and makes plays. Yager lacks physical strength and size at this stage to dictate in that way, but he has higher-end hockey sense and is able to make defenders miss with his hands.

He posted 95 points last season and helped the Warriors win the WHL championship while representing the league at the Memorial Cup. He had 27 points in 20 WHL playoff games and six points over four games at the Memorial Cup.

Yager was also part of Canada's World Junior entry in 2024 and was one of their more reliable offensive performers in what was an otherwise disappointing tournament that ended without a medal. Yager had five points in five games and will be eligible to return to Team Canada at the next World Juniors in Ottawa.

As a right-shot playmaking center who just turned 19, the Jets help bolster their prospect depth and also bring in a player who is from Saskatchewan and will likely relish the opportunity to be closer to home as an NHL player.

Yager also has so much more development ahead of him. His production jumped last year, and the expectation would be a dominant season for him in the WHL again. He only just turned 19 in July, so there's a nice runway yet for him to reach his potential.

The Jets did well to land a player who is already under contract, on the way up as a prospect and someone that will more likely be on board for the path to the NHL. Yager may be destined for some time in the AHL before reaching the NHL roster on a full-time basis, which seems to be Winnipeg's preference anyway and a reason McGroarty was not eager to leave Michigan. No matter when Yager gets there, the Jets have to like the upside they've been able to achieve by trading away one of their best overall assets.