Jets’ Rookie Thomas Milic’s Crash Course in NHL Life

Young Winnipeg Jets’ goalie Thomas Milic? What a season. If you’re a Jets fan trying to figure him out, you’re not alone. The poor kid didn’t sign up for this kind of baptism by fire. He’s 22, was supposed to be in Manitoba, getting reps, feeling out the pro game, maybe a cup of coffee here or there, nothing fancy.

With Hellebuyck Down, Milic Gets Crash Course in Pressure

When Hellebuyck went down and needed knee surgery, Milic was thrown directly into the NHL. There, he backed up Eric Comrie. With the Jets already in a tailspin and no Hellebuyck, it’s not the best situation for a young goalie to step into.

With the Moose, he had put up the kind of solid numbers that franchises are looking for. Even better, you could see it in the way Milic played that he had some talent. Calm, methodical, reading the play, not panicking. That kind of stuff gets noticed, so the Jets call him up on November 21. Now he’s on the NHL ice, and it’s…well, it’s not easy.

Milic’s Debut Against the Hurricanes Was a Loss with an Upside

His debut? Carolina Hurricanes. Rough opponent. Stops 34 shots, loses 5–1. On paper, it doesn’t look good, but anyone watching could see he kept the Jets in it longer than the score suggests. And then Buffalo, Edmonton—he’s making relief appearances, facing high-pressure situations, letting in a few, but competing the whole time: three outings, eight goals on 62 shots. Numbers aren’t glamorous, but that’s the story of a kid coming in cold, behind a shaky defense, against some of the league’s best teams. Brutal environment, honestly.