Brayden Yager

Lore & Background

Yager grew up in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, moving to Saskatoon at age 11. His father played goaltender for the Detroit Falcons in the Colonial Hockey League, and his older brother played in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League. Yager played bantam hockey with the Martensville Marauders, recording 59 points in 31 games in his first season and 103 points in 31 games the following year. He then played two seasons with the Saskatoon Contacts in the SMAAAHL as an underage player, requiring exceptional player status to play at age 14. In the 2019–20 season, he finished third in team scoring with 42 points in 44 games and led the Contacts in playoff scoring with eight points in six games.

Drafted third overall in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft by the Moose Jaw Warriors, Yager made his major junior debut at age 15 without exceptional player status due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his rookie season, he set a franchise record for 16-year-olds with 34 goals in 63 games, becoming the first Moose Jaw player to win the CHL Rookie of the Year award and the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy. As an alternate captain in 2022–23, he recorded career highs of 78 points and 50 assists, and received the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Sportsmanlike Player. He was ranked fourth among all skaters by TSN's Director of Scouting Craig Button ahead of the 2023 draft.

In the 2023–24 season, Yager had 35 goals and 60 assists in 57 games, earning the Hornung Trophy for a second consecutive season and being named CHL Sportsman of the Year. He helped the Warriors defeat the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL Finals to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup, recording 11 goals and 16 assists in the postseason. At the 2024 Memorial Cup, he had three goals and three assists in four games and was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins on July 25, 2024, but was traded to the Winnipeg Jets on August 22, 2024, for the signing rights to Rutger McGroarty. On December 2, 2024, he was traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes alongside Jackson Unger.

Reader's Guide

Brayden Yager's significance lies in his rapid ascent through junior hockey and his status as a first-round NHL draft pick. His rookie season in the WHL set a franchise record for 16-year-olds with 34 goals, earning him both CHL and WHL Rookie of the Year honors. He demonstrated consistent offensive production and sportsmanship, winning the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy in consecutive seasons and being named CHL Sportsman of the Year. His leadership as an alternate captain and his key role in the Moose Jaw Warriors' WHL championship and Memorial Cup appearance highlighted his ability to perform in high-stakes situations. The trade from the Penguins to the Jets in August 2024 positioned him as a key prospect for Winnipeg, though he was later moved to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in December 2024. His international experience includes a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he recorded nine points in five games. Yager's career trajectory reflects a player who has consistently exceeded expectations at each level, from bantam hockey to major junior and international competition.

Did You Know?

• Yager set a Moose Jaw Warriors franchise record for 16-year-olds with 34 goals in the 2021–22 season.
• He won the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the WHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player in two consecutive seasons.
• He represented Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, recording five goals and four assists to help win a gold medal.