The Manitoba Moose are settling into their off-season routine following a 2025-26 season full of progression. 

Manitoba added 10 wins to their regular season count compared to the 2024-25 campaign, made the playoffs, and won their First Round matchup. On the team front, it was significant growth. 

“I’m just really proud of the group,” said head coach Mark Morrison. “They were very tight. They were all good teammates. They worked really hard, and they played well. We ran up against a good hockey team, but I’m very proud of how hard they played and practiced.” 

Though they eventually fell short against a talented Grand Rapids Griffins team, who finished second in the AHL during the regular season, Morrison recounted many monumental moments over the course of 2025-26. Those moments sparked belief, which the team played with until the bitter end.  

The improvement wasn’t just about overall wins and losses, either. Morrison saw growth from prospects like Brayden Yager, who Winnipeg Jets fans watched closely throughout the season. 

“I saw a lot of progression; (Yager) knows how to play the game the right way,” Morrison said. “His offence and skill level are elite, and he’s always going to have that, but he learned how to make good decisions with the puck through the neutral zone, how to play in his own end, body position, stick position. He just got a lot better at a lot of things. I think it showed in the playoffs. That’s another area where he raised his game and played really well for us.” 

Many of the same things can be said for Colby Barlow and Jacob Julien, who found their strides as the season wore on. For others familiar with the professional game, the theme of growth was particularly strong.  

Brad Lambert became a regular in the Jets’ lineup following the trade deadline, Danny Zhilkin earned his first NHL games, Elias Salomonsson showed well at the next level, and Thomas Milic and Domenic DiVincentiis both had stints with the big club. All told, 12 players spent time on both the Moose and Jets rosters this season. 

“I thought it was great for all those guys,” Morrison said. “They all fared well when they went up. That’s important for our group down here to see that if you put the work in, you can have some success.” 

The growth doesn’t end with the final game of the season. Now, the players return to their home bases and continue building. 

“The summers are huge,” Morrison explained. “The biggest part of all these exit interviews is making sure they’re on the right page and going to work on the right areas. They all seem to be in tune with what they have to do. Now it’s up to them to put the work in.”