NHL waivers take surprising turn after multiple teams Show interest in former first-rounder

The NHL waiver wire delivered an unexpected twist Wednesday after former first-round pick Brad Lambert became available to all 31 teams. The Winnipeg Jets placed the 22-year-old forward on waivers Tuesday, reportedly attracting interest from several clubs looking to add some young talent to their lineup. The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers were reportedly among some of the teams said to be taking a closer look at Lambert, making him one of the more intriguing names on the waiver list since the start of the season.

However, despite that reported interest, Lambert went unclaimed. Elliotte Friedman confirmed Wednesday that the young forward had cleared waivers and will remain in the Jets organization.

Selected 30th overall by Winnipeg in the 2022 NHL Draft, Lambert has struggled to establish himself as a regular at the NHL level. He has recorded just one assist in 11 games this season. Last year, he split his time between the Jets and their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, collecting three goals and six points in 25 NHL games.

Lambert has shown considerably more offensive upside in the AHL. His strongest season came in 2023-24, when he produced 21 goals and 55 points in 64 games with the Moose. Across 42 career NHL appearances, he has registered three goals and nine points.

Meanwhile, the waiver wire featured two other notable names, with Danton Heinen and Emil Andrae also being placed on waivers on Wednesday. Their situations will be worth monitoring as teams continue to evaluate potential roster additions.