Winnipeg Jets prospect update: Niku, Kraskovsky, Berdin & Karlstrom

In case you were wondering about the status of certain Jets prospects or where they may be playing next season, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff provided some clarity (for the most part) on four prospects.  According to the GM:

Sami Niku (Drafted: 198th overall in the 7th round in 2015) – The Finnish defenceman played in both the SM-liiga aka the Finnish Elite League for 38 games (four goals, seven assists) with JYP Jyväskylä and in Mestis (second-highest ice hockey league in Finland) for seven games (zero goals two assists) with JYP-Akatemia.  Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff indicated: “He will be back in Finland.”.

Pavel Kraskovsky (Drafted: 168th overall in the 6th round in 2014) –  The Russian forward was with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the KHL last season finishing with two goals and three assists in 40 games.  Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff indicated: “He signed a contract in the KHL”.

Mikhail Berdin (Drafted: 165th overall in the 6th round in 2016) – The Russian goalie played in the MHL (Russian junior hockey league established by the KHL) for the U18 squad getting into 22 games (12 wins 6 losses 2 ties) with a 92.8 save% and a 2.07 GAA.  Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff indicated: “Our understanding is that he is still playing over in Russia”.

Marcus Karlstrom (Drafted: 194th overall in the 7th round in 2013) –  The Swedish defneceman spent last season with the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League (U.S. based Tier II Junior league) finishing with one goal and 23 assists in 51 games.  Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff indicated: “His situation is still a little up in the air, I think, so I’d have to dig a little further into that”.