"They were losing a player to the Beijing Olympics and wanted me to come in and replace him and I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to play on a team that's fighting for playoff position and help my hometown club win hockey games," Lambert said on the latest edition of the "NHL Draft Class" podcast. "Playoffs have always been one of my favorite parts of the year and to have that opportunity to fight for a team that's in a playoff spot right now is really big for me."
The 18-year-old right-shot center (6-foot, 175 pounds) has scored seven points (three goals, four assists) and taken 88 shots on goal while averaging 14:25 of ice time in 32 games this season with JYP and Pelicans. He has one goal in eight games with Pelicans.
Lambert was a teammate of JYP right wing Joakim Kemell, No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of the top International skaters. He discussed the differences in their styles of play.
"I think Kemell's
and the NHL app.
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Listen: New episode of NHL Draft Class
