Brayden Yager’s next step appears to be another year in the American Hockey League, and Winnipeg is betting that the path back to elite scoring runs through Manitoba.
The 21-year-old center has already taken a meaningful stride in his development. In his first pro season with the Manitoba Moose, Yager skated in 68 games and put up 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points. He handled heavy top-line minutes and spent time centering veterans Phil Di Giuseppe and Samuel Fagemo.
Yager also got his first look at pro playoff hockey. He picked up four assists in seven games as Manitoba beat the Milwaukee Admirals in the first round before being eliminated by the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The former 14th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft finished the year with a short NHL stint, appearing in three games for Winnipeg and going scoreless.
What the Jets are still waiting for is the kind of offensive output Yager showed before turning pro. In his final WHL season, split between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Lethbridge Hurricanes, he erupted for 25 goals and 57 assists for 82 points in only 54 games. Across six WHL seasons, he totaled 129 goals and 332 points.
His shot has long been viewed as one of the best releases in the Jets’ system, but there’s still work to do physically. Yager is listed at 170 pounds, and adding strength should help him handle bigger pro opponents and finish more of the chances his vision creates.
For now, the expectation is clear: another full season in Manitoba, more time to polish the details, and a longer runway before Winnipeg asks him to make the jump for good.
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