The Manitoba Moose will begin the new season on Oct. 12 – 25th since arriving in Winnipeg in the 1996-97 International Hockey League season – with an interesting mix of high-promising draft picks, young returnees, and veterans.
The Winnipeg Jets' American Hockey League affiliate was dismal in the first half of 2023-24 but rebounded in the second half to finish fifth in the Central Division with a 34-35-2-1 record and make the Calder Cup Playoffs. However, they were quickly swept in the first round of the best-of-three by the Texas Stars.
Head coach Mark Morrison should have an inspired squad under his wing this season, as a number of players will be looking to take the next steps in their careers and catch the eye of a big club.
Chaz Lucius
Is Chaz Lucius closed? This season could answer that question.
The 2021-18 overall pick, due to his growing injury history, is increasingly looking like an at-risk asset. Last season, his first full professional campaign, he had to undergo season-ending ankle surgery after recording 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) with the Moose in 17 games.
It was the striker's fourth season-ending surgery in as many years, all of which have limited him to 71 games since the start of the 2021-22 campaign and cost him time to develop.
In January, 2023, while playing with the Portland Winterhawks after winning bronze with the United States at the World Juniors and his first title with the Moose, he suffered. shoulder injury that required surgery he ended his season. It was a bad time as he dominated the Western Hockey League club, recording five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in just six games.
In 2019, he underwent knee surgery that involved replacing the bone marrow in his back and his recovery required him to spend six weeks in a wheelchair and another six weeks in a heavy brace, “initially learning to walk again and again. .” (From 'Jets prospect Chaz Lucius proves he can get through anything,' Winnipeg Sun, September 13, 2023.)
In 2020-21, after being drafted by the Jets, he suffered a hand injury that required ankle surgery that ended his first season with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers after just 24 games.
Lucius skated through the Jets Development Camp in early July wearing a yellow non-contact jersey and was said to be a little ahead of schedule in his rehab and recovery.
“I would like to see what would happen if I played the whole (2023-24 season)”, said Lucius in the camp. “I think my opportunity next year will be a little different. But I'm in the situation I'm in, I can't control that. The only thing I can control now is to go back and feel 100 percent and play hockey again, that's the most important thing.”
“I know what I have to do,” he continued. “Whether it's a year in the AHL or maybe if I play hockey at a higher level hopefully I can get a game or two next year, that would be great too. First and foremost, I just need to stay healthy and prove that I can play consistent hockey.” (from 'Lucius a source of untapped power,' Winnipeg Free Press, July 5, 2024.)
You can bet the organization will be tracking Lucius and his health this AHL season. He has great speed and acceleration, a high hockey IQ, and two-way ability, but at some point they'll have to stop banking on him being a top-six NHLer if he can't stay healthy. He has two years left on the entry-level contract (ELC) he signed in 2022 as he slipped once.
Parker Ford
Parker Ford took big steps forward in his first full professional season, recording 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) in 72 games to finish sixth on the Moose in scoring after he had a cup of coffee with the team in 2022-23 .
This 24-year-old undrafted center, signed after four seasons at Providence College, has shown a wicked shot, good speed in the neutral zone, a willingness to get into dirty areas in front of the net, and a white paper as a right winger in the “ownership” of the Moose in his third line , Kristian Reichel, and Jeffrey Viel. It was a trio Morrison kept together as much as possible through all the line shuffling and personnel changes that AHL teams often endure, and one Morrison often went to start time or swing momentum.
Entering 2024-25, Reichel and Viel are gone, having signed with Germany and the Boston Bruins, respectively. With several of Moose's top six players likely to jump to the Jets, Moose's share of the top six and a lead role with other new teammates could be in the cards for Ford in the second year of his two-year ELC. Thanks to four years in college and two years in the United States Hockey League before that, he will be one of the oldest players on the team.
Ford, at a post-season media availability, said playing in the AHL and the tough competition required some adjustment but was thankful for all of the Moose's 72 contests. He credited playing with Reichel and Viel as helping him in his development.
Thomas Milic
Milic stole the Moose crease in his rookie season at just 20 years old. There should be big eyes on him and his sophomore campaign as he could be a solid backup to Connor Hellebuyck for a few seasons down the line.
The now 21-year-old started last season in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals, earning All-Star nods by posting an 11-3-3 record, 2.45 GAA, .908 SV%, and two shutouts. The Moose, on the other hand, had the worst first half in history and both of their strikers, Collin Delia and Oskari Salminen, were playing badly.
Milic, who joined the Moose during an 11-game losing streak from December through most of January, took on Delia and Salminen and never let up. He posted a 19-9-2 record, 2.72 GAA, and .900 SV% down the stretch while recording his first career shutout and playing a big role in dragging the Moose out of the cellar and into the playoffs.
With Delia and Salminen gone, the Moose's starting role for 2024-25 undoubtedly belongs to Milic. The organization also brought goalscorers Eric Comrie and Kaapo Kakhonen on July 1 and both will fight to replace Laurent Brossoit who is Hellebuyck's backup.
Related: Jets' Backup Battle Brewing and Comrie and Kahkonen Signings
Whoever is sent down will have an important role to play in not only staying mentally ready to make the jump to the NHL in the event of an injury but also in Milic's mentorship. Comrie is 29 years old and holds the most Moose records from his last three seasons in the Jets organization and Kahkonen is 27 years old with 139 games of NHL experience. Playing alongside a strong veteran closer could help Micke a lot.
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