Just four years ago, Brad Lambert looked like a steal in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Once projected a top-five pick, Lambert continued to fall in the draft, eventually landing in the lap of the Winnipeg Jets at 30th overall.
Now, just four years later, it appears as if Lambert is on the outs with the Jets. Elliotte Friedman announced this morning that, in order to clear room for a Manitoba Moose player, Lambert will make his way to the AHL once more.
Cleared
Lambert (WIN) on waivers
This season hasn't been Lambert's best; the forward has just one point in 11 games with the Jets. That said, he's still young at 22 years of age. Could a team like the Detroit Red Wings take a swing at him?
What the Red Wings could get from Lambert
Red Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff has watched Lambert for many years during his time as GM of the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Moose, Winnipeg's AHL affiliate, share the Central Division with the Griffins. In 159 games with the Moose, Lambert has amassed 103 points.
His NHL prospects, on the other hand, have not gone quite as well.
In 42 career NHL games, Lambert has just nine points -- three goals and nine assists. While those numbers might be panic-inducing, it's important to note that Lambert plays an average of 10:33 a night, with that number dropping to 9:10 a night this season. It's hard to produce when you're only playing a few minutes a night, which, in turn, makes your coach not trust you with more minutes a night.
Sometimes, a fresh start is all a player needs. Take Sam Bennett from the Florida Panthers, for example. In Calgary, he looked like nothing more than a depth forward. On Florida, he came into his own and became an immediate force, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy just two seasons ago.
This isn't to say that Lambert is a lock for the Conn Smythe, but it does speak to the importance of playing to a player's strengths. Maybe Lambert just needs to slot into a new system and work his way up. The Red Wings are still starved at center and, if Lambert winds up becoming something, he might be a great depth center for Detroit in the future.
If he works, great -- you've got yourself a forward. If he doesn't, you can waive him and move on.
It's a low-risk, moderate reward claim no matter how you swing it.
Lambert would be the second waiver claim Detroit has made this season, the first being Andreas Englund from the Calgary Flames.
Red Wings might have too much on their plates as is
That said, the Red Wings are juggling quite a bit right now. They've got to make plans for the return of Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton, they'll likely need to free up room if Dylan Larkin is traded for roster players and they've still got to worry about a certain unsigned defenseman, too.
Lambert might be a classic example of "right player, wrong time" in action. While he might fit a position of need for the Wings, this waiver timing amidst so much chaos might cause Horcoff to pass on him.
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