Trade: Winnipeg Jets No. 3 Prospect Brayden Yager On The Move

Recent first-rounder Brayden Yager is on the move again. He was acquired by the Winnipeg Jets in a splashy offseason NHL trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins for fellow first-round pick Rutger McGroarty. This time, Yager is part of a Western Hockey League blockbuster.

🚨 BLOCKBUSTER ALERT 🚨

The Warriors have traded Brayden Yager and Jackson Unger in exchange for Colt Carter, Brady Smith, Landen Ward, and assorted draft picks. pic.twitter.com/ai0Li65sjL
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) December 2, 2024

The Moose Jaw Warriors sent Yager and goalie Jackson Unger to the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL in exchange for forward Landon Ward, goalie Brady Smith, defenceman Colt Carter and six draft picks.

Yager was off to another good start for Moose Jaw, the team he helped lead to the WHL championship last season with 11 goals and 27 points in 20 playoff games. Yager has registered 30 points in 19 games this season, after posting a tremendous 95 points in 57 games last regular season. The Warriors, however, are having a rough 2024-25, sitting 10th and second-last in the WHL Western Conference at 6-15-3-1.

Lethbridge is currently fourth in the Central Division with a record of 12-10-1-1.

It was a noteworthy day for the Jets prospect, as he was also named to the Team Canada training camp roster for the World Junior Hockey Championship.

Still just 19, Yager was the 14th overall pick by the Penguins in the 2023 NHL Draft. He was sent to Winnipeg after their own 14th overall selection (2022 Draft) Rutger McGroarty expressed a desire to be dealt out of the organization.