Latest news with #SaschaBoumedienne
CTV News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Winnipeg Jets ‘happy with our haul' after five players selected in NHL entry draft
Sascha Boumedienne, left, stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by the Winnipeg Jets during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) The Winnipeg Jets have selected five players during the NHL entry draft. 'We were happy with our haul,' said Mark Hillier, Winnipeg Jets director of amateur scouting. 'We've got five players that can all skate and have some skill.' The entry draft resulted in the Jets selecting defenceman Sascha Boumedienne in the first round, forward Owen Martin in the third round, forward Viktor Klingsell in the fifth round, defenceman Edison Engle in the sixth round and forward Jacob Cloutier in the seventh round. The draft was held on Friday and Saturday in Los Angeles, U.S., with Boumedienne being the only player selected by the Jets on the first day. He was the 28th overall pick in the first round. 'Boumedienne is a really, really good skater, puck-moving defenceman who gets back to pucks quickly, beats pressure and moves the puck,' said Hillier. Sascha Boumedienne is a Winnipeg Jet ✈️ — Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 28, 2025 The 6'2' defender born in Sweden played with Boston University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association last season. He was named the best defenceman at the 2025 IIHF World U18 Championship where he secured a silver medal for Team Sweden. Meanwhile, Martin was the third Manitoban to be selected by the Winnipeg Jets since they returned in 2011, per Scott Brown, senior director of hockey communications with the team. He was the 92nd overall selection. The 6-foot 18-year-old from Oakbank played with the Spokane Chiefs for the last two seasons in the Western Hockey League. Oakbank, Manitoba's Owen Martin is a Winnipeg Jet ✈️ — Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 28, 2025 'He's an intriguing player for us,' said Hillier. 'He has pretty good size. He is a good skater, who has some skill, but has a good, smart two-way game … He had a really strong playoff this season. We expect those offensive numbers to even pop more next year.' Klingsell, the 156th overall pick hailing from Sweden, played 43 games with Skelleftea AIK in the J20 Nationell and skated in three games with Skelleftea in the Swedish Hockey League last season. The 5'10' 18-year-old played for Sweden at the 2025 IIHF World U18 Championship. How sweet it is to add another Swede! 🍬 🇸🇪 — Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 28, 2025 'We really liked him all year long,' said Hillier. 'He can really skate (and) has really good speed. He played in all the international tournaments this year for the under-18 team. He plays in a good program at Skelleftea and has good offensive upside, he has grit to his game, he's a dog on a bone on pucks.' Engle was the 188th overall pick coming from Arlington Heights, Illinois at 6'2'. He previously split time between the Des Moines Buccaneers and Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League last season. Angled for Edison Engle 💡 — Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 28, 2025 A media release from the Jets indicates that he recently committed to the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the upcoming season, with a commitment to Ohio State University set to start in 2026-27. 'Using our analytics a little bit too, he's one of the best skaters that we thought was in the draft,' said Hillier. 'It's a good opportunity for us to take him late. We think there's more offensive ability to come from him in the future … He really gets back to pucks quickly.' 'We think if he can add a little to his offensive game in the future, we got a pretty good value pick there,' he added. Cloutier, the 220th overall selection, played 67 games this past season with the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL. Born in Ottawa, Ont., he was named to OHL's second all-rookie team. Soaring from Saginaw to Winnipeg 🛫 — Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 28, 2025 Hiller said he has 'lots of speed in his game, lots of quickness and lots of skill.' 'He's five foot 10, but he plays bigger than his size, so we like that pick there too.'
New York Times
16 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What are the Winnipeg Jets getting in their 2025 NHL Draft picks?
Winnipeg modernized its approach to the 2025 draft, while also staying true to its roots, and made all five of its picks. The Jets relied more heavily on analytical models to project draft outcomes, estimate other teams' draft lists, and identify specific skill sets. When the Jets selected Sascha Boumedienne in the first round, they made the decision instead of trading down, which was an option, when their projections told them Boumedienne would be available at 28. Advertisement Boumedienne was followed by centre, Owen Martin, from Oakbank, Man. Martin is a 200-foot centre who played for the Eastman Selects and the Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg before joining Spokane in the WHL. He's the third Manitoban the Jets have drafted, after Jordy Stallard (2015) and Jason Kasdorf (2011) and adds to this summer's theme of homecoming: Winnipeg's signing of homegrown star Jonathan Toews will become official on July 1. What are the Jets getting from Boumedienne and Martin? What about their three other choices: Viktor Klingsell, Edison Engle, and Jacob Cloutier? Here's our breakdown of Winnipeg's 2025 draft class — all of whom will be present at development camp this week — with insight from the people who know them best. Drafted: First round, No. 28 | Position: LD Age: 18 | Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 184 pounds 2024-25 stats: 40 GP, 3 G, 10 A, 13 pts (Boston University, NCAA) Boumedienne was the youngest player in NCAA hockey to start last season, relying on footspeed to escape pressure, move pucks, and add to Boston University's attack. He also fast-tracked his high school graduation, starting college at just 17 years old—a once-controversial decision that seems to be paying off. Winnipeg's Director of Amateur Scouting, Mark Hillier, sees a lot of room for the now 18-year-old to grow. 'As the youngest guy in college hockey, he was always in the lineup but had limited ice time for the first half of the year,' Hillier said. 'By the playoffs and the (Frozen) Four, he's playing 24, 25 minutes. There was really good progression all year.' Boumedienne needs to grow stronger, winning more physical battles, and critics point to decision-making as a weakness. One scout told The Athletic not to worry — that Boumedienne is a good bet to keep developing as a still-young college sophomore. Hillier says he views Boumedienne as a strong skater and a puck-mover who will probably play on a second power-play unit at the pro level. Advertisement Cheveldayoff spoke to Boumedienne's 'outstanding' U-18 tournament: Boumedienne was named the tournament's best defenceman, winning a silver medal for Team Sweden and setting a record for points by a defenceman with 14 points in seven games. 'His best plays were in the toughest moments,' Cheveldayoff said. 'He played big minutes down the stretch in all situations.' Boumedienne will return to Boston University this season, where he'll look to capitalize on a strong second half to this season by stepping into a bigger role. 'That's what the year's all about. You learn, you continue to grow, and you take advantage of it,' Cheveldayoff said. 'And he did … That's a testament to him. Going through the processes of learning and playing at a level where lots of players are much older than you, that's all part of the development that really intrigued us.' Sascha Boumedienne was just a child, living just down the road from his community rink. He had his hockey gear on, skates in his backpack, roller blades on his feet. It was the beginning of a beautiful dream. My feature story: ⤵️ — Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) June 29, 2025 Drafted: Third round, No. 92 | Position: C Age: 18 | Height: 6-foot-0 | Weight: 185 pounds 2024-25 stats: 39 GP, 13 G, 21 A, 34 pts (Spokane, WHL) Martin is lauded for his character, his work ethic, and his attention to defence as a junior player. He fought through injuries this season, blocking a shot and then battling through what he called a slight fracture and a partially torn tendon. He returned to game action in January, playing a shutdown role for Spokane on its way to the WHL Final. Most of all, Martin is a 'no cheat' player who plays hard, wins faceoffs, finishes checks and can be trusted to play against anyone in the WHL. It can be difficult to project defence-first players from junior to the NHL — the most successful defensive forwards in the NHL usually put up more points in their draft year than Martin did. One notable exception is the Jets' captain, Adam Lowry, who finished 10th in voting for the Selke Trophy this season. Advertisement You can bet that Martin is well aware of that fact: He grew up going to Jets games with his family. 'It's just super cool to be drafted by the hometown team,' he said on Saturday. 'It's just an unbelievable experience.' And those point totals? Hillier says he expects growth. 'He had a really strong playoff this season,' Hiller said. 'We expect those offensive numbers to even pop more next year.' More like O-win, amirite? The @NHLJets are shopping local by selecting Owen Martin from nearby Oakbank!@spokanechiefs | #GoJetsGo | #nhldraft25 — Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 28, 2025 Drafted: Fifth round, No. 156 | Position: LW/RW Age: 18 | Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 187 pounds 2024-25 stats: 43 GP, 17 G, 22 A, 39 pts (Skellefteå, Sweden J20) Klingsell is a Swedish forward who came through the same Skellefteå as Jets prospect, Elias Salomonsson. He was ranked much higher than where Winnipeg took him: 72nd by Scott Wheeler, 113th by Corey Pronman. 'Hopefully, he's a steal. We really liked him all year long,' Hillier said. 'He's not the biggest guy in the world at 5-foot-10 (but) he has a real solid frame on him. He's a thick and solid 5-foot-10.' Klingsell is one of the top offensive players at his age group in Sweden, combining speed with great hands and creativity. He'll need to keep developing in those regards, finding ways to produce more points in Sweden's U20 junior league after excelling at the under-18 level. He also led the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with 12 points as Sweden won bronze. There are questions about whether he has the dynamism or size to produce in a middle-six capacity in the NHL, but the Jets took him 156th overall. Klingsell has more than enough talent and upside to justify the bet. 'He plays in a really good program at Skelleftea,' Hillier said. 'He has good offensive upside, he has some grit to his game, he's a dog on a bone on pucks.' Every year, I find myself on an island with some players, liking them a lot more than everyone else. This year, it's Viktor Klingsell. At some point in the draft, you just can't pass on a guy like him (#9). The skill level is out of this world. — Jérémi Plourde (@jeremiplourde_) June 24, 2025 Drafted: Sixth round, No. 188 | Position: LD Age: 18 | Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 174 pounds 2024-25 stats: 54 GP, 2 G, 15 A, 17 pts (Dubuque, USHL) Edison Engle is heading from the USHL to the OHL next season and is committed to Ohio State University for college. The circuitous route buys him time to keep developing; Hillier says Engle could be a value pick at 188 if he can add to his offensive game. Advertisement 'Using our analytics a little bit, too, he's one of the best skaters that we thought was in the draft. So it's a good opportunity for us to take him late. We think there's more offensive ability to come from him in the future … Sort of like Boumedienne, Engle really gets back to pucks quickly, separates from the forecheck and moves the puck quick.' Drafted: Seventh round, No. 220 | Position: RW Age: 18 | Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 171 pounds 2024-25 stats: 67 GP, 23 G, 24 A, 47 pts (Saginaw, OHL) Cloutier scored 47 points in 67 games in the OHL and is Winnipeg's first pick from the Saginaw Spirit since Cole Perfetti in 2020. He's a smaller player with grit at the junior level — perhaps a bit like an OHL version of Parker Ford. 'Similar to Klingsell, there's lots of speed to his game, lots of quickness and lots of skill,' Hillier said. 'And he competes. He's 5-foot-10, but he plays bigger than his size.' (Top Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
For Jets' pick Sascha Boumedienne, hockey and family go hand in hand
Sascha Boumedienne's parents, Josef and Petra Boumedienne, didn't want to pressure their children to play hockey. In fact, they did everything in their power to build a well-rounded life full of activities, academics, and sports. Josef played 47 NHL games and hundreds more throughout Europe, but the last thing he wanted was to be a dad who forced any of his three boys to follow in his footsteps. Advertisement 'We as a family, we try to be diverse. You don't want your kids to be single-minded growing up. You try to introduce them to different aspects of life growing up — and different sports,' Josef told The Athletic. 'But my two youngest sons, especially, they really never wanted to talk about anything other than hockey.' It didn't take any pressure at all. Sascha Boumedienne met hockey, fell in love with it, and never let it go. He started playing street hockey when he was two and a half years old, buoyed by encouragement from his dad's close friend and teammate, Jonas Andersson — a one-time Manitoba Moose. He got his first pair of skates when he was three years old — a gift from his uncle, Karim — and spent the whole day toddling around his carpeted house in them. When Boumedienne was a child, playing minor hockey for Lidingö Vikings HC, just outside of Stockholm, he lived close to their arena. At eight or nine years old, he'd get ready for practice by dressing up in his equipment at home, throwing his hockey skates in his backpack, lacing up roller blades and skate himself to the rink. By the time he learned to skate, he was keeping up with players one or two years older than him — a theme that continued throughout his minor hockey career in Sweden, into the USHL, and at Boston University, where the Jets' first-round pick in 2025 was the youngest player in the NCAA at the start of last season. He didn't need to be pressured into any of it; instead, his parents say Sascha was a self-starter — the driver of his own success. 'He's very adamant about making his own decisions,' Josef said when asked what makes him the most proud. 'He's kind of speedtracked his own development, as far as playing with older players and then playing in the USHL as a 16-year-old, which is a tough task. Then, going into college and playing NCAA a year early and speeding up his school last spring and last summer to finish his high school, I'm very proud of him for taking on tasks and sticking with it.' Advertisement Those are the character elements that drew Winnipeg to pick Boumedienne, too. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff had thought about trading down from 28th to acquire more draft capital. When it became clear that Boumedienne would be available, he held on to the pick and made sure Boumedienne became a Winnipeg Jet. As a player, there are myriad things to be impressed by. Boumedienne is a great skater with a great attitude. He beats pressure with speed, quick puck retrievals, and great puck movement. His shot is a strength, while scouts appreciate his compete level. When the Jets selected Boumedienne on Friday night in Los Angeles, however, his parents were most proud of the way he carried himself as a person. Sascha had traveled with '24 or 25' family members, extended family, and close friends. The moment Eric Comrie announced his name as the Jets' first-round pick, Boumedienne spent time thanking every single one of them for helping him realize his dream. There was no panic, no rush, and no extended family member for whom he didn't take the time. 'That's something I'm very proud of (as a parent)' Josef said. 'We are a tight-knit family. Family is very important to Sascha. Not just the immediate family but the extended family as well. I love that about him.' Pay close attention to the video when Boumedienne receives his Jets hat and jersey on stage. He adjusts the size of his cap, then curves it just the way he likes. It is a moment of meticulousness, perhaps, or of extra poise at a moment that could be wrought by nerves. This is where having a dad who spent 11 years working for the Columbus Blue Jackets, including 10 years in a scouting capacity and two years as director of amateur scouting, comes in handy. 'This was probably his seventh or eighth live draft that he's been at. So he had some experience going into it,' Josef said. 'When your name is on the line there, it brings out different feelings. He's had some experience being around pro hockey and being around the draft before, through my job. Maybe that made him a little bit more comfortable.' Advertisement Boumedienne said his son is detail-oriented when it comes to his game. It's something simultaneously innate and honed through a lifetime of playing with older competition, from learning to skate through last season at Boston University. Could that be an advantage as Sascha strives to surpass his father's NHL career? 'I think it's really good to push yourself and be at a really high level but you also have to feel comfortable and confident, especially if you're a player that tries to bring some puck play to your game as well,' Josef said. 'I think it's good, to some extent, to push yourself and to expand your boundaries — and you also want to be a really good player at the level you play at, to build that confidence and swagger.' Sascha Boumedienne has both. He has the self-starter's drive to push himself and the self-confidence. When he spoke with Jets media on Friday night, the bilingual Boumedienne was clearly well spoken, even as he soaked up the joy of the moment. He will be at development camp in Winnipeg next week, then return to Boston University for his second year. Choosing BU took conviction — some believe Boumedienne would have been drafted in the top 10 had he piled up the points, playing junior instead. Boumedienne says there's no doubt he made the right decision. 'I think it's just been good for my development. I really wanted to challenge myself, especially this year with going to BU and being the youngest guy,' he said. 'I felt like we had a really good plan in place for me and I want to challenge myself while playing against bigger players, kind of playing more of that pro-style game.' Will his dad's pro experience help him realize that pro dream? 'I wouldn't be where I am today without my dad,' he said. 'He's been in my shoes right now and he's kind of taken these steps on his own when he was younger. He's been alongside me every step of the way and I lean on him a lot. He has done everything I'm doing right now and will be doing … I'm very thankful for not only him but my mother as well.' Advertisement So yes, those postdraft hugs were well placed. It takes a village to raise a hockey player, even when their parents do their best not to force them into hockey. 'I think all of our children have a big support system around them,' Josef said. 'They have a family that loves them and then cousins and a lot of close friends. We didn't try to take particular roles, myself and my wife. We tried to bring them up with love and show them different aspects of life.' And yes, it delights Sascha Boumedienne's dad that he fell in love with hockey, too. 'You see the passion and the love for the game pretty early,' Josef said. 'Where it will take you, or take him, that's hard to say. But the passion and the love and the hours at the rink, that was evident pretty early.'
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jets select swift Swedish blue-liner
The Winnipeg Jets have added another mobile, puck-moving defenceman to the pipeline. With the 28th overall pick in the NHL Draft, the Jets chose Swedish blue-liner Sascha Boumedienne, who spent last season with the Boston University Terriers and had three goals and 13 points in 40 NCAA games. Boumedienne is known for his offensive game and skating ability and boosted his stock with an exceptional showing at the World U18 championship in Texas, setting a tournament record for assists (13) and points (14) by a defenceman. Damian Dovarganes / The Associated Press Sascha Boumedienne tries on a Jets jersey Friday night after goalie Eric Comrie (centre) announced the Swedish blue-liner was Winnipeg's first pick of the 2025 NHL Draft. The Jets didn't have a first-rounder in 2024, but their first pick was Alfons Freij, who has a similar prospect profile and recently signed his entry-level contract with the Jets — though he's expected to return to play in Sweden's top league next season. Winnipeg's top defence prospect is Elias Salomonsson of Sweden, so while the Jets have often said they don't draft by passport, it doesn't seem like a coincidence they've gone to that well this often since 2022 — when Salomonsson was chosen 55th overall. Boumedienne was the seventh defenceman chosen in the first round and he's considered to have a high ceiling, as someone who can run a power play and eventually projects to be a Top-4 D-man. The left-handed shooter has enjoyed an interesting development path, as he was born in Finland and grew up in Sweden. He eventually made his way to North America to play in the Ohio Blue Jackets AAA program before joining the Younstown Phantoms of the USHL. There's some NHL lineage as well, as Boumedienne's father, Josef, had a lengthy professional hockey career that included 47 games as a defenceman with the New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals. Looking ahead to Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Jets have four more selections currently, the next one coming in the third round (92nd overall). The Jets also have picks scheduled for the fourth, sixth and seventh rounds. It will be interesting to see what strategy the Jets use on the second day and whether they look to trade up into the second round or look to add additional draft capital. Everett Silvertips foreward Carter Bear of West St. Paul was the first Manitoba chosen as he went 13th overall to the Detroit Red Wings. The other player with Manitoba connections, Brandon Wheat Kings centre Roger McQueen went 10th overall to the Anaheim Ducks. Although the draft is taking centre stage, there's already been plenty of talk about the additions to the roster that the Jets need to make in the coming days. Bringing in Winnipegger Jonathan Toews, who has agreed to a one-year deal that will be official on July 1, was an important step but the Jets will be looking to further augment the roster. With just a few more days to go before free agency opens on July 1, there's been some speculation about what the Jets might do if forward Nikolaj Ehlers opts to sign elsewhere. Although Ehlers hasn't ruled out staying with the Jets, with Sam Bennett staying with the Florida Panthers and John Tavares signing an extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, the expectation is Ehlers will have plenty of suitors who are offering a significant raise from the US$6 million he's been making during the past seven seasons. Once Mitch Marner decides where he's going to go, Ehlers will be one of the most highly sought-after forwards this summer on the open market. One of the possible replacements for Ehlers is right-winger Brock Boeser, who spent the past eight seasons and change with the Vancouver Canucks after finishing his NCAA career with the University of North Dakota. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Boeser, 28, has amassed 204 goals, 230 assists and 434 points in 554 NHL games — including 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games last season. Boeser is one season removed from posting career-highs of 40 goals and 73 points and he carried that into the playoffs, where he collected 12 points in 12 post-season games. Although Boeser's not as dynamic as Ehlers, he's a proven goal-scorer that has eclipsed 20 goals on six different occasions in his first eight full seasons. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Jets take Swedish defenceman Boumedienne with 28th pick at NHL draft
Sascha Boumedienne, left, stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by the Winnipeg Jets during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) LOS ANGELES — The Winnipeg Jets took Swedish defenceman Sascha Boumedienne with the 28th overall pick in the NHL draft Friday. The six-foot-one, 175-pound Boumedienne registered three goals and 10 assists in 40 games with Boston University last season. Winnipeg won the Presidents' Trophy last season after posting the NHL's best regular-season record. After a miraculous seven-game series win over the St. Louis Blues, the Jets lost in six games to the Dallas Stars in the second round. When free agency opens Tuesday, the Jets will sign Winnipeg native and longtime Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews to a one-year contract. Talented winger Nikolaj Ehlers is expected to test the open market. Rounds two through seven at the draft take place on Saturday. The Jets have four remaining draft picks, one for each round except the second and fourth. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025. The Canadian Press
