Jets Recall Nikita Chibrikov, Reassign Brad Lambert to Moose

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This morning, December 9th, the Winnipeg Jets announced that they have recalled forward Nikita Chibrikov, and have sent down forward Brad Lambert to the Manitoba Moose.

TRANSACTIONS: The #NHLJets have recalled F – Nikita Chibrikov from the Manitoba Moose (AHL).
The Jets have also assigned F – Brad Lambert to the Manitoba Moose.

— Winnipeg Jets PR (@WpgJetsPR) December 9, 2024

In 19 games with the Moose this season, Chibrikov, 21, has five goals and eight assists for 13 points. During the 2023-24 season with the Moose, he tallied 17 goals and 30 assists in 70 games. The Russian forward usually plays right wing on the third line for the Moose, but in Lambert’s absence, he was promoted to the second line. He made his NHL debut last season during the Jets’ final home game and scored in their 4-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks.

On December 3rd, the Jets recalled Lambert, 20, from the Moose. He’s played the last four games for the Jets as the second-line centre, typically with Cole Perfetti and Vlad Namestnikov on the wings. He didn’t record any points during this stint with the Jets, but he tallied an assist during the 2023-24 season when he made his NHL debut against the Canucks. Through 16 games with the Moose this season, he scored three goals and tallied eight assists for 11 points.

Based off the fact that Chibrikov was called up, that probably means Nikolaj Ehlers is no where near ready to go. Ehlers was placed on injured reserve back on December 3rd. When the Jets played the Golden Knights, he suffered an injury in the second period after attempting to check Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev. Prior to the injury, Ehlers has 9 goals and 16 assists for 25 points through 24 games this season.

With Lambert getting sent down, Namestnikov will likely take over the second-line centre role, with Perfetti and Chibrikov on the wings.

The Jets will take on the Boston Bruins at 7 p.m. CT tomorrow, and we’ll learn more about the lineup after the morning skate.