Despite typically being one of the first forwards recalled in case of injury, Winnipeg Jets forward prospect Brad Lambert is reportedly disgruntled about his position within the Jets organization. To that end, insider Frank Seravalli shared that Winnipeg has permitted Lambert and his representation to seek a trade partner.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Lambert was considered one of the best prospects available in the 2022 NHL Draft, with some scouts indicating he could be selected second overall behind then Kingston Frontenac, Shane Wright. Unfortunately, due to a horrific start to the 2021-22 season with the Liiga’s JYP, Lambert was cut from the team only to land with his hometown Pelicans. He finished the season with four goals and 10 points in 49 games with a -16 rating.
Still, Lambert’s previous projections cause him to stay in the first round despite the disappointing season. The Jets selected him with the 30th overall selection and loaned him to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds for the 2022-23 campaign. He played well in Seattle, scoring 17 goals and 38 points in 26 games with a +27 rating, and finished the year with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, scoring two goals and three points in 14 contests.
Lambert’s production in the 2023-24 campaign led some to believe that he may have turned a significant corner in his development. In his first full professional season, Lambert scored 21 goals and 55 points in 64 games with the Moose and even earned his NHL debut, where he registered an assist. Despite being one of the youngest players on the team at the time, Lambert led Manitoba in scoring.
He slipped last season. Although the team around him wasn’t altogether great, Lambert took a huge step back in his production, registering only seven goals and 35 points in 61 games with a -30 rating. The Moose themselves finished second-to-last in the entire AHL and had the lowest-producing offense of any team.
Lambert’s primary concern has become his NHL experience. In the last two years, including the first month and a half of the 2025-26 campaign, Lambert has scored one goal and two points in nine games for the Jets, averaging 10:28 of ice time typically in a fourth-line role.
Clearly, Lambert believes he has earned an extended look at the NHL level, and the Jets are seemingly willing to grant him that, albeit with a different team. Several contenders are seeking a second-line center, though there’s no argument that Lambert has worked himself up to that stature quite yet.
Whether through injury or another reason, the Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vancouver Canucks could all serve as a potential destination for Lambert. Assuming the Jets aren’t looking to receive anything close to a first-round pick, which they used to select Lambert three years ago, they should have no significant hurdles to clear in swinging a deal.
Lambert for Peyton Krebs. I want Krebs on the Jets.
Lambert to the blues for texier, full retention of his contract and a 3rd round pick.
It would basically be trading one younger crybaby for an older crybaby. Texier didn’t want to be in Columbus now St Louis don’t want him either. The Jets don’t need him.
Anyone else tired of these Entitled Brats??
Yeah, I mean I can understand being frustrated when you’re 23 or 24, especially if you’ve put your head down and produced in the A, but at 21 with one decent season and one middling season with the Moose, just keep working, dawg.
Well put.
Yeah, the nerve of someone wanting to decide for themselves where they live and work. The audacity of someone who doesn’t want to waste his time with a mediocre franchise. The pain! The horror!
Huh? By what notion do you figure that Winnipeg’s a “mediocre” franchise? It’s been nearly a decade since they’ve had a losing season, and they’re perennial contenders.
“One Man’s Garbage, Is One Man’s Treasure”…Winnipeg to be fair is a dangerous freezing tundra middle-of-nowhere shhthole, with the nicest Canadians
Jets have made it past the second round of the playoffs once. They are low-level contenders at best.
He’s allowed to look for a trade. There’s no rule against it. I’m just saying it might be a good idea to prove yourself first or else you’re going to be a) branded as a difficult presence without the play behind it, and b) you might end up in the Swiss league because the only teams who want to sign you might be Buffalo or Calgary. Dubois wanted out of Peg and ended up playing for Torts in Columbus—arguably a worse situation.
Well, Dubois went from Torts and Columbus to Winnipeg, then LA and finally Washington. Difference is at least he has some decent talent and a bit of a track record at playing in the NHL. Finally had a great season last year. Lambert has not yet done anything to warrant any sort of attitude and should maybe produce at the AHL level first?? Just do something productive and Wpg will Love You. Keep the attitude and Yes, off to Swiss League you go and Good Riddance!!
Calgary
Yeah if the Jets take maybe a 3rd round pick, then maybe … and that’s a BIG maybe. Flames have better players in their system for free, and they aren’t known to play younger players very much anyways (even when they are the worse team in the league).
Pavel Mintyukov for Lambert
Lambert to NJ for Filmon?