Carson Lambos

June 2023 – Although Lambos is one of the top defensive prospects for the Minnesota Wild, he did not have the greatest 2022-23 season as the captain of the dominant Winnipeg Ice of the WHL. He managed 48 points in 61 games which was less points-per-game compared to his 2021-22 season. His playoff production of seven points in 19 games was also less than his 2021-22 numbers of eight points in 15 games. Although he has not regressed, Lambos did not take the next step during the past season. Lambos will now be eligible to play professional hockey at the AHL level and will need a year or two before he is possibly ready to play a full season in the NHL. Nathan Leblanc

June 2022 – Lambos began his 21-22 season by signing his ELC contract with the Minnesota Wild in August 2021, just a couple of months after being drafted 26th overall at the 2021 NHL draft. The trust that the Wild put into him paid off in spades on the ice, as Lambos demonstrated an incredible offensive season in the WHL, managing 10 goals and 37 assists in only 53 games. He also sported a plus/minus of plus-42 during the season leading a strong Winnipeg Ice team to the WHL playoffs. The playoffs didn’t go as well with only eight assists to show for in 15 games, however, expect Lambos to play an important role for Canada in the upcoming World Junior Championships and to get a look at training camp with the Wild for next season. Nathan Leblanc

July 2021 – Lambos was selected in the first round, 26th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

February 2021 – Lambos’ adjustment to the Jr A SM-sarja has not gone as well as hoped. He has shown some flashes of the player that we saw in Winnipeg but there have been consistency issues since his arrival in the Finnish junior league. Lambos remains intriguing if for nothing else than he still remains a projectable NHL defender who can play solid minutes and play capably in all three zones. His shot remains a strength offensively but his playmaking has been solid yet unspectacular. He can make good crisp passes but the flashes of dynamism that were evident with the ICE haven’t shown themselves this season. His defensive game has been the trait that’s projected best in Finland, yet the consistency issues remain. For the most part, he plays a good gap, leads with his stick and does a good job of getting the puck and moving it up ice. While he is no longer in conversation near the top of the draft, his fall from grace hardly means he is no longer a first-round prospect. He still projects well and has the ability to eat up some minutes, it just may come as a second pair, all-situations guy rather than a top pair guy who can be relied on to drive play in all situations. Tony Ferrari 

August 2020 – A defender with no glaring weakness, Lambos is a powerful skater who can contribute in all three zones. The Winnipeg ICE  blueliner took on a big role fairly early on in his 16-year-old season, averaging over 22 minutes per game. He was relied upon defensively and showed that he was more than up to the task. He wins battles and stops cycles better than just about any player his age and doesn’t back down regardless of the level of competition. At 6’1″ and 201lbs, he has the size and strength to close on attackers physically, often leading with his stick to poke the puck free before closing in and finishing with the body. His defensive positional play isn’t perfect but he has the IQ to read a play and react when he is out of position. When he gets the puck on his stick in his own zone, he moves it up ice quickly and efficiently with either his feet or the pass. He is adaptable and versatile, capable of leading a rush from the back end or identifying when to join the rush as an extra attacker. He has a big shot from the blueline but will need to push into the slot a bit more to take advantage of it. He showed growth in the offensive zone throughout his rookie season but there is an element of rawness to his game on in-zone offensive sets. Continuing to mature and grow into his role as a number one defender in the WHL will be key to seeing Lambos take the next step in the offensive zone. Likely to continue playing in all situations, Lambos is again going to be leaned on to lead the ICE from the blueline. Although he is not the favorite, he is in the conversation to be the top pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. With no surefire number one selection, the debate will rage on with Lambos providing the all-around defensive presence that NHL teams covet. Pat Quinn