By Mason Lyttle
JANESVILLE, WI — Jets goaltender Daniel Lebedeff was recognized Tuesday on the NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary ‘Prospects to Watch’ list.
The list is sent to NHL team scouts to track players eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and operates as a preliminary watch list before the midseason rankings are available in January. The Dallas Stars will host the 2018 NHL Draft on June 22nd and 23rd at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
A total of 55 NHL scouts, including some from NHL Central Scouting, were present at the NAHL Showcase two weeks ago.
Lebedeff was given a “C” rating, indicating him as a target in the fourth, fifth, or sixth round of the NHL Draft.
Lebedeff’s placement marks the fifth straight season in which a Jets goaltender has placed on the list, following Derek Schaedig in 2016-17, Jack LaFontaine in 2015-16, Matt Jurusik in 2014-15, and Logan Halladay in 2013-14.
Lebedeff, a Finnish native committed to the University of Wisconsin, has started three games for the Jets, winning two and posting a .926 save percentage across the 180+ minutes of action. The ’99 goaltender played last season with the Madison Capitols of the USHL.
The Jets are on the road this weekend in Austin, Minnesota, and will return home for next weekend’s marquee “Pink in the Rink” event, the annual breast cancer awareness weekend sponsored by Mercyhealth. The Jets will play the benefit series in specialty pink jerseys, which will be available for post-game auction after Saturday’s match, with proceeds going to the Mercy Regional Cancer Center. Stay tuned to janesvillejets.com and the Jets’ social media channels for upcoming news and coverage of the popular event.