The Manitoba Moose kicked off the 2024-25 American Hockey League (AHL) season with a weekend sweep of the Iowa Wild on Oct. 12 and 13, successful 6-4 and 3-2. All the Winnipeg Jets group is off to a sizzling begin, with the NHL squad additionally undefeated by means of three video games.
The 2 Moose wins confirmed numerous what might be anticipated this season, headlined by some standout rookie performances and a few key veteran contributions. This appears to be the deliberate components, no less than in the interim, and it paid off within the first two contests of the season as they put together for the subsequent sequence in opposition to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Sturdy Performances From Jets’ High Prospects
They’re the names on everybody’s thoughts, however Nikita Chibrikov, Elias Salomonsson, and Brad Lambert all discovered themselves in the midst of the motion over the weekend. All three of the children discovered themselves among the many remaining cuts at Jets’ coaching camp, they usually’re already demonstrating that their expertise might earn them one other NHL shot within the not-so-distant future.
Associated: Winnipeg Jets Youth Poised for Massive Seasons with AHL Manitoba
Chibrikov led the way in which, racking up 4 factors within the crew’s first two video games. After a powerful 2023-24 rookie AHL marketing campaign the place he put up 47 factors in 70 video games, he seems set for one more step ahead and these first video games appear to counsel that as nicely.
In his first AHL motion, Salomonsson was additionally spectacular for the Moose. The 20-year-old Swedish defender is in his first season on the smaller North American ice, however he already appears to be like snug on the market. He tallied his first AHL objective within the season opener, whereas additionally including two assists within the weekend sequence. Taking part in subsequent to Simon Lundmark on the second pairing, Salomonsson ought to proceed to see a wealth of alternative to maintain enhancing his sport.
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Lambert is one other impression prospect seeking to enhance his sport, though he’s already impressed in his skilled motion. In his first skilled season in 2023-24, he was named a member of the AHL’s All-Rookie Crew. Now, along with his quick begin, it looks as if he’s not that removed from outgrowing the AHL. The 20-year-old has three factors over the primary two video games, all assists, as he appears to be like to observe up final season’s 55-point effort.
First Profession Begin (and Win) for Domenic DiVincentiis
Jets 2022 seventh-round choose, Domenic DiVincentiis, was given his first skilled begin in web on Oct. 13, and he made probably the most of it. The rookie netminder earned the win by stopping 37 of 39 photographs and regarded as much as the duty after being thrust into a really younger tandem.
After Kaapo Kahkonen was misplaced on waivers and Eric Comrie was named Connor Hellebuyck’s backup, the Moose have been left with a tandem of DiVincentiis and Thomas Milic, who have been born in 2004 and 2003 respectively. You’d be hard-pressed to discover a youthful place group, particularly when it appeared the plan was to assign Kahkonen to the AHL and let DiVincentiis discover his skilled bearings within the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals.
If the primary weekend is an indicator, it seems the Moose are going to offer each goaltenders some runway, possible splitting them once they can. It’s going to be a critical studying expertise for each prospects and there are positive to be rising pains, but it surely might additionally profit the 2 of them to have one another to lean on given their age.
Up Subsequent: Grand Rapids Griffins
The Moose now head to Grand Rapids, Michigan to face the Central Division rival Griffins in video games three and 4 of their season. The Griffins cut up video games on opening weekend with the Milwaukee Admirals and the Rockford IceHogs, and can possible come out combating after dropping their final contest.
How the Moose method this upcoming weekend sequence in opposition to the Griffins will go a good distance in displaying what head coach Mark Morrison is planning on rolling with when it comes to personnel. For now, it looks as if a top-six filled with youth and artful veterans is the important thing to their success. Will that be what helps them down the road? That is still to be seen, however that query shall be answered as every sport will get checked off the schedule.
