There isn’t a prospect in the Winnipeg Jets organization with more hype behind them heading into training camp later this week than Brad Lambert. The Finnish-Canadian forward, who lit up the American Hockey League as a rookie last season, has a big chance to crack Winnipeg’s opening night lineup. And after another solid rookie tournament in Penticton, Lambert appears primed to take his opportunity by the horns.
The 20-year-old scored a beauty during Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks , and played his part on Nikita Chibrikov’s second of the tournament with a sublime backhand, cross-ice pass to set up the Russian for Winnipeg’s other goal. Lambert also pitched in with another slick assist during Friday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Calgary Flames and was given the day off Monday as the Jets concluded the annual trip to B.C.
with a 2-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers . “I thought he was excellent, I really did,” Manitoba Moose head coach Mark Morrisson told reporters on Sunday. Morrison wouldn’t have been surprised, having helped Lambert develop into a top rookie in the AHL last season.
And we already know how he feels about where Lambert should be playing this coming season. “I’ve got my opinion on it, but I don’t want to throw it out there,” Morrison said last week when asked if Lambert is ready to jump to the NHL. “I think that will happen with (Jets coach Scott Arniel) and (GM Kevin Cheveldayoff) and the group there.
But Brad’s come a long w.