| Brad Lambert | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 19 December 2003 Lahti, Finland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre / Right wing | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams | Winnipeg Jets Manitoba Moose (AHL) HIFK JYP Jyväskylä Lahti Pelicans | ||
| NHL draft | 30th overall, 2022 Winnipeg Jets | ||
| Playing career | 2019–present | ||
Brad Lambert (born 19 December 2003) is a Finnish-Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 30th overall by the Jets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. [1]
On 13 December 2019, 15-year-old Lambert made his professional debut for HIFK of the SM-liiga, the top league in Finland. [2] Following the season, in which he scored 38 points in 42 games with HIFK's U20 club and two points in four games with their senior club, Lambert exercised a contractual option to leave the organization. [3]
On 8 May 2020, Lambert signed a two-year contract with Finnish club JYP Jyväskylä. [4] He would score 15 points in 46 games in the 2020–21 season, leading all under-18 players. [5]
Entering the 2021–22 season, Lambert was considered one of the top prospects for the upcoming 2022 NHL Entry Draft, ranked as high as second overall by some scouts. [6] After a disastrous start to the season that saw him score only six points in 24 games, Lambert's contract was terminated by mutual agreement and he signed with his hometown club, the Lahti Pelicans. In Lahti, his production stalled even further, to just four points in 25 games. [7] Following this tumultuous and disappointing season, he fell in the draft until he was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, 30th overall. [8]
In June 2022, despite never playing a game in the league and all signs pointing to him playing at the professional level upon arriving in North America, the Seattle Thunderbirds acquired Lambert's Western Hockey League (WHL) rights from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for draft picks. [9]
Lambert attended Jets training camp prior to the 2022–23 season. [10] On 12 October 2022, he was signed to a three-year entry-level contract and assigned to the Jets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. [11] After 14 games with the Moose in which he scored only three points, the Jets assigned Lambert to the Thunderbirds. [12] With the Thunderbirds, Lambert scored 48 points in 26 games, as well as 26 points in 17 playoff games en route to winning the 2023 Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions. [13] The Thunderbirds then reached the final of the 2023 Memorial Cup, where they were defeated by the Quebec Remparts. [14]
Returning to the Moose for the 2023–24 season, Lambert was named to the 2024 AHL All-Star Game. [15] With multiple Jets regulars not playing the final game of the season to rest ahead of the playoffs, Lambert was recalled to the NHL. He finished the AHL season with 20 goals and 52 points, good for second in rookie point scoring and earning a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team. [16] In his NHL debut on 18 April 2024, Lambert recorded an assist in a 4–2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. [17]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's ice hockey | ||
Representing  Finland | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 | 2022 Canada | |
 | 2021 Canada | |
Lambert represented Finland at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as a 15-year-old at the under-18 tournament, where he scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 victory against Switzerland. [18]
Lambert has attended three IIHF World Junior Championships, winning bronze in 2021 and silver in 2022, and finishing fifth in 2023.
Lambert was born in Lahti, Finland to a Canadian father and a Finnish mother, and he is a citizen of both countries. [19] His uncle Lane Lambert is a former NHL player and coach. [20] His father Ross played for the Saskatoon Blades and professionally in the American Hockey League (AHL) and in the United Kingdom's Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), where his uncle Dale also played. His cousin Jimmy played for the University of Michigan. [6]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2018–19 | Lahti Pelicans | U20 SM-sarja | 17 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 2019–20 | HIFK | U20 SM-sarja | 42 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | HIFK | Liiga | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | JYP Jyväskylä | Liiga | 46 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | JYP Jyväskylä | U20 SM-sarja | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | JYP Jyväskylä | Liiga | 24 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Lahti Pelicans | Liiga | 25 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 14 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 26 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 12 | 17 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 8 |
| 2023–24 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 64 | 21 | 34 | 55 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Liiga totals | 99 | 11 | 16 | 27 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Finland | U17 | 7th | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2019 | Finland | HG18 | 4th | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021 | Finland | WJC |  | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | Finland | U18 | 4th | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2022 | Finland | WJC |  | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2023 | Finland | WJC | 5th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 30 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 12 | ||||
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| AHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2024 | [15] |
| All-Rookie Team | 2024 | [16] |
Olli Veli Pekka Jokinen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings third overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, with whom he made his NHL debut. He has also played for the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St. Louis Blues. He began his professional career with KalPa and then HIFK of the Finnish SM-liiga. Additionally, he played for EHC Kloten of Switzerland's National League A and Södertälje SK of Sweden's Elitserien. He previously held the franchise records for most goals, assists, and points for the Florida Panthers.
Aaron Gagnon is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets.
Brenden Kichton is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Nicolas Petan is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Petan was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, 43rd overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Joshua Morrissey is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Jets in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
John Albert is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played as captain for the Toledo Walleye in the ECHL. He was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 6th round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and has formerly played with the Winnipeg Jets. Albert was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but grew up in Concord Township, Ohio.
Patrik Laine is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. Laine formerly played in his native Finland with Tappara in the Finnish Liiga before he was taken with the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
Sami Niku is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with EHC Kloten of the National League (NL). He was selected in the seventh round, 198th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Scott Kosmachuk is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with HC Lada Togliatti. He was originally drafted 70th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
Chase De Leo is an American professional ice hockey forward for the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL), while under contract with the Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Kristian Vesalainen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga. Vesalainen was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, 24th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Ville Heinola is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was ranked as one of the top international skaters eligible for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Heinola was drafted 20th overall by the Jets.
Brayden Tracey is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the San Diego Gulls in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Henri Nikkanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Joona Luoto is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is currently under contract with SC Bern in the National League (NL).
Roni Hirvonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 59th overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, ranking within the top ten of European skaters of the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.
Santeri Hatakka is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Dylan Guenther is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Arizona Coyotes with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Chaz Lucius is an American professional ice hockey center for the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Lucius was drafted in the first round, 18th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Lucius played collegiate hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the NCAA.
Matthew Savoie is a Canadian junior ice hockey centre for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) as a prospect to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL entry draft.