The Vancouver Canucks may be in a rebuilding phase, but that doesn’t mean they should sit out a chance to add a young player with upside.
That’s where Brad Lambert comes in. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Winnipeg Jets have placed the 22-year-old forward on waivers, and he immediately looks like the sort of low-cost swing Vancouver should at least consider.
Lambert was a first-round pick by Winnipeg in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but he has yet to establish himself at the NHL level. Even so, his age and skill set make him an intriguing option for a team willing to take a chance on development. At 6-foot-1, he still has time to turn things around, and a rebuilding club like the Canucks could offer the kind of opportunity that helps him do it.
The appeal is simple: there’s no asset cost attached to a waiver claim. Vancouver would not have to give up anything to bring him in, which makes the decision an easy one to at least entertain while the team continues to struggle this season.
Lambert’s NHL production has been modest so far. He has one assist in 11 games this season, and last year he posted three goals and six points in 25 games for Winnipeg during the 2025-26 season.
Still, there’s enough there to keep him on the radar. Lambert has shown more in the AHL, especially in 2023-24 with the Manitoba Moose, when he put up 21 goals and 55 points in 64 games. That kind of production suggests there may be something to unlock if he gets the right runway.
If Vancouver were to claim him and give him a look in the top nine and on the power play, Lambert could become a useful addition. A new setting might be exactly what he needs to take the next step and turn his promise into real NHL impact.
For now, the question is whether the Canucks will actually make the move. Given Lambert’s age, pedigree, and the fact that he’s available for nothing but a waiver claim, there’s little downside in finding out.
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Canucks Practice Brought A Lineup Twist Ahead Of A Key Stretch
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The timing matters with Anaheim, Winnipeg and Edmonton coming up next, and Vancouver is still sorting out its forward group after providing an injury update on Filip Chytil. He will miss the upcoming game, leaving the Canucks to manage their options as they try to keep momentum through a busy part of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]