The Winnipeg Jets announced Friday morning that they have recalled forward Brayden Yager from the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Yager’s season in the WHL came to a close Thursday night, as the Hurricanes were swept out of the Eastern Conference Final by the Medicine Hat Tigers following a 5–2 loss in Game 4. With Lethbridge’s playoff run now over, Yager becomes eligible to join the Jets organization for the remainder of their season.

The 19-year-old from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, had an impressive junior campaign split between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Lethbridge. He opened the 2024–25 season in Moose Jaw, tallying 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in just 21 games. After being dealt to the Hurricanes in December, Yager continued his strong play, adding 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists) in 33 regular-season games. He followed that up with 14 points (eight goals, six assists) across 16 playoff appearances.

Yager also represented Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he recorded three assists in five games.

Originally selected 14th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 NHL Draft, Yager’s NHL rights were traded to the Winnipeg Jets in August 2024 in a one-for-one deal that sent fellow prospect Rutger McGroarty to Pittsburgh. Prior to the trade, Yager had signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins.

Although Yager won’t join the Jets immediately in their first-round playoff series against the St. Louis Blues, he is currently practicing with the team’s taxi squad at the Hockey For All Centre. That group includes forwards Parker Ford, Mason Shaw, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, and Brad Lambert, as well as defencemen Elias Salomonsson, Dylan Coghlan, and Isaak Phillips. Ford, who had been rehabbing an injury, is reportedly healthy and could be an option as an extra forward.

Game 6 between the Jets and Blues is set for tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SNW.