With Connor Hellebuyck being placed on the IR for 4-6 weeks as of November 22nd, the Jets were left scrambling for a consistent netminder to take over the workload as we head into the mid-season grind. Hellebuyck’s .925 save percentage led the Jets to the Presidents Trophy last season, as well as another Vezina for his collection and the first Hart Trophy won by a goalie since Price in 2014. Still, he didn’t grab the real trophy that everyone wants, with his Jets losing to a strong Dallas Stars team in 6 games in the second round. Now, with Winnipeg in 5th place in their division as of November 25th, their fans are worried that this injury of their star goaltender will be detrimental to their playoff hopes.
After the announcement of the injury, the Jets called up 22 year old Thomas Milic, who had been playing for their AHL affiliate the Manitoba Moose in the AHL. The 22-year-old has had a very strong showing in 9 games so far this year, going 5-2-2 with a .922 save percentage. Last season saw Milic jump straight from being a WHL superstar to the AHL, where he played for a struggling Manitoba team and posted an .877 in 21 games. That same year, the ECHL game proved too easy for the young netminder, as he posted a .935 in 18 games with the Norfolk Admirals, and a .945% in the playoffs in 9 games.
Milic is not a tall goalie (6’0), but he moves efficiently and reads plays very well, rarely forcing himself to make desperation saves.
Born in New Westminster, British Columbia, Milic grew up playing for Coquitlam minor hockey. Then, in his second year of Bantam, he made the jump to the growing CSSHL, playing for Burnaby Winter Club and posting a .925%. His team won multiple tournaments, the league, and Milic was named CSSHL goalie of the year.
These stats saw Milic drafted to the Seattle Thunderbirds in the third round of the WHL bantam draft, the team having kept a close eye on him during his time with the Burnaby Winter Club U18 prep team where he posted a .908% his first year and a .945% his 16 year old year. Milic got two starts with Thunderbirds as a 16 year old, and also suited up for Canada for the first time at the U17 worlds.
Thomas was dominant in his first two full WHL seasons. With a strong team both offensively and defensively, the Seattle Thunderbirds made back to back trips to the WHL finals with Milic as the starter, winning in 2023 and advancing to the Memorial Cup. This caught the eye of Canada’s World Junior team managers, and after Ben Gaudreau fumbled the starter’s net, Milic was exceptional for his country. He shone under the brightest lights in hockey, quickly assuming a leadership role within the team. Milic went 5-0 and stood tall in overtime against Czechia to win the gold.
With dominance in minor hockey and prep academy, dominance in the WHL and international play, and pure dominance in the ECHL last season, is it too early to say Jets fans are in for some Thomas Milic NHL dominance this season? We wouldn’t bet on a .930, but we guarantee he will compete and prove himself at the top level in any opportunities he has this season.
What do you think?
2 Responses to “Thomas Milic: The Jets Future?”
Wish the team played harder for him tonight 🙁
Came from Reddit, not disappointed