Brayden Yager set for season debut against Stars
Winnipeg expects Yager to join Adam Lowry and Isak Rosén on Thursday, with the morning skate still to confirm the lineup.
Brayden Yager is expected to play his first NHL game of the season Thursday, Oct. 22, when the Winnipeg Jets visit the Dallas Stars. Winnipeg's game-day report projects him on a wing alongside centre Adam Lowry and fellow winger Isak Rosén.
The Jets recalled Yager from the Manitoba Moose on Monday after he produced five goals and nine points in six AHL games. Thursday's visit to Dallas concludes Winnipeg's two-game road trip. The club said its 11:30 a.m. CT morning skate would offer a clearer picture of any changes to Wednesday's practice combinations.
A centre by trade, Yager could exchange responsibilities with Lowry during a shift. Lowry said he wanted Yager to keep carrying the puck and using the middle of the ice, rather than changing his approach simply because he was starting on a wing.
Yager appeared in three games for Winnipeg at the end of last season and has yet to register an NHL point. He said that experience taught him to move his feet quickly after receiving the puck and protect possession long enough to use his skill.
Lowry said the adjustment to professional hockey involved finding ways to contribute consistently even when points were harder to come by. He expects Yager's previous NHL experience to help with the pace and structure.
