Born: 2003-12-19
Team: JYP
Position: Center/Left Wing
Shoots: Right
Height / Weight: 5-11 / 172
UPDATE: JULY 5, 2021
Lambert’s first season with JYP in the Liiga was twofold. His board and corner play did improve and he started to win more wall battles. There were moments when he tracked back furiously, taking hard steps on the backcheck to steal the puck away. Although he is known for his excellent skating and dynamic puck skills, Lambert is definitely not a one-direction player. He brought maximum effort to shifts consistently. Offensively, he can be a threat as a puck carrier, as he attacks with speed through the neutral zone and over the opposition blueline. His decision making in the offensive zone could be better at times; I do expect this will improve with more experience. Worth noting is that he only averaged 2.6 shot attempts per game in the Liiga last season, according to InStat Hockey. Lambert will have a chance to be a high pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and I’m certain that we are going to see a highly motivated player next season. There are differences in style of play, but I think he has the potential to be a star player in the NHL, similarly to Mikko Rantanen or Sebastian Aho.
REPORT: JOKERIT @ HIFK U20, DECEMBER 6, 2019
HIFK U20 took a 4-3 shootout win over Jokerit. It was was an interesting game with lots of prospects to watch for future NHL drafts, including fellow 2003 born forward Samu Salminen. Lambert logged almost 23 minutes of ice-time and recorded six shots on goal. A smooth operator with the puck, he showcased flashy and fast stickhandling. Made a great diagonal pass from below the goal line to the point. The 2022 draft eligible is already a very strong and polished skater who generates speed through fast crossovers. He made himself available for passes in the neutral zone and facilitated zone entries. He’s a strong shooter with a precise wrist shot, yet he also showed a quick backhander on one occasion. All in all, Lambert looks like a high-end skater with very good puck skills and pretty good hockey sense.
REPORT: KIEKKO-ESPOO @ HIFK U20, AUGUST 27, 2019
Lambert played on HIFK U20 first line and was one of one of the top players in a 4-3 shootout loss to Kiekko-Espoo. He centered the first line, playing alongside Julius Janhonen and Janne Hämäläinen, and he was able to drive the play. Lambert got on the scoresheet with one goal in the first period and also hit the crossbar in the second period. The latter opportunity came as a direct result of a strong defensive play in the neutral zone. His offensive skill set and skating stood out most. He has a soft touch on the puck and excellent stick skills. Moreover, his wrist shot features impressive accuracy and velocity. Lambert’s skating is already at a very strong level. He can not only pull away from opponents, but also create back pressure to force them into hurried decisions. He has explosive speed and good agility. On the downside, the 15-year-old forward struggled at the face-off dot. Overall, this was a promising performance from Lambert against a strong opponent.
REPORT: PELICANS @ HIFK U20, JANUARY 9, 2019
The 15-year-old forward showed a lot of promise on Pelicans U20 third line in a 4-2 win over HIFK. Lambert scored the 3-1 goal goal in the third period with a high-velocity wrist shot. He’s a fluid skater with good mobility and a quick first step – the puck doesn’t slow him down. Lambert’s passing was crisp and precise, he was able to take his time with the puck and find open teammates without rushing plays. He displayed quick hands and the ability to create space for himself and others in the offensive zone. He also used his stick well defensively. Lambert won’t be eligible for the NHL Draft until 2022 but he looks like an exciting prospect with plenty of potential.