Jets' Former First-Round Pick Goes Unclaimed By 31 Teams
The Jets put Lambert on waivers to make room for a call-up from the Manitoba Moose.
How It Got Here
The 22-year-old has one assist, four shots, and eight hits in 11 games this season, and he was a healthy scratch in three of Winnipeg’s last five games, including the last two.
The waiver move came after the Jets lost their ninth straight game, a 7-0 defeat to the Hurricanes, and the team used defenseman Tyrel Bauer at forward over Lambert before the decision was made.
Cleared
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 4, 2026
Lambert was selected 30th overall in 2022 after a draft year that saw him fall from a projected top-three pick, and he has three goals and nine points in 42 career NHL games.
He split last season between the two levels with three goals and six points in 25 games for the Jets and six goals and 13 points in 34 games with the Moose, and he has 36 goals and 106 points in 173 career AHL games.
His best season came in 2023-24, when he led the Moose in scoring and made the AHL’s All-Rookie Team.
What Comes Next
With the waiver period over, the Jets can assign Lambert to the Moose without another team acquiring him, and he is expected to head to Manitoba.
His uncle, Lane Lambert, is the head coach of the Kraken, which led some to wonder if Seattle might put in a claim, but no team did.
@FriedgeHNIC Wooooww Brad Lambert was once ranked as high as top 5 before his draft year. What happened to him?!!?
— Anne Labrecque (@AnneLabrecque1) November 3, 2026
Lambert reportedly asked for a trade late last year before rescinding the request, and his $886,666 cap hit is the final year of his entry-level contract before he becomes a restricted free agent in the summer.
