Brad Lambert, 2022 top prospect, continues to impress in the Finnish Liiga as he records his sixth goal of the season. Winnipeg Ice defenseman Carson Lambos has been promoted to the Finnish Liiga and made his debut for JYP. St. Louis Blues’ prospect Klim Kostin records a career-high three points while on loan in the KHL.
Lambert Impresses In Finnish Liiga
While the focus remains primarily on Kingston Frontenacs youngster Shane Wright for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the most likely competitor for first overall is excelling in Finland. Lambert scored his first Finnish Liiga goal back in October and has impressed ever since. Lambert plays for JYP Jyväskylä after transferring over from HIFK earlier this year. At 16 years of age and a late December birthday, Lambert became the first 2003-born player to score in the Finnish Liiga. Born in Lahti, Finland, Lambert holds both Finnish and Canadian citizenship. However, he’s strictly represented Finland at the international level.
He spent the majority of the 2019-20 season with HIFK in the Jr. A SM-liiga, in which he amassed 18 goals and 20 assists for 38 points in 42 games played. He also featured in four games for HIFK at the Liiga level, posting two assists in four games played. Through 25 games played this season, Lambert has recorded six goals and five assists for 11 points. He sits seventh in team scoring and is only five points off the team leader, Jerry Turkulainen who has 16. Lambert has slowly been averaging more and more ice time as the season has gone on thanks to his impressive production as a 16-year old.
He represented Finland at the 2021 World Junior Championship winning a bronze medal and amassing one goal and three assists for four points in seven games played. He’ll be back next year as an important piece of Finland’s 2022 World Junior Championship team. He’ll join an impressive list of Finnish prospects who have gone in the top five over the last couple of years, joining the likes of Kaapo Kakko, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Miro Heiskanen. While Wright may be the favorite right now, Lambert will make a case to be the first Finnish player to be selected first overall.
Lambos Makes Debut In Finnish Liiga
Ice defenseman Lambos was loaned to JYP U20 of the U20 SM-sarja in Finland back in October. He played 13 games for JYP’s U20 team and recorded two goals and nine assists for 11 points. Thanks to that impressive performance, he earned a promotion to their Finnish Liiga team. He featured in JYP’s 5-4 shootout loss to Vaasan Sport on Wednesday and managed to have 7:18 of ice time.
Lambos is a 6-foot-1, 201-pound mobile defenseman who impressed in his rookie season in the WHL, where he put up eight goals and 24 assists in 57 games. He has a real shot at challenging for first overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, and the extra playing time will be great for his development. There is no confirmation yet, but he is expected to return to Winnipeg for the 2020-21 WHL season. The WHL has announced the approval for some teams to return to play, but the Manitoba based teams are waiting for confirmation that they can resume activities.
Kostin Records Three-Point Game in KHL
Blues’ prospect Kostin was loaned to Avangard Omsk in the KHL back in September and despite the NHL team’s season starting in January, he has remained in Russia on loan. Originally drafted 31st overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, he spent the 2019-20 season playing primarily with the San Antonio Rampage in the American Hockey League. He amassed 13 goals and 30 points in 48 games played. It was the 21-year old’s third season in North America since coming over from Russia. He also made his NHL debut, playing in four games with the Blues and recording his first NHL goal on Nov. 23 against the Nashville Predators.
On Tuesday, Kostin recorded his second multi-point game of the season and his first since his debut on Sept. 25. He assisted on all three of Avangard’s goals in their 3-1 victory over Dinamo Minsk. The Blues still hope the Kostin will be an NHL regular someday and seem to be taking their time with his development by keeping him in Russia for the remainder of the season.