WINNIPEG– Colby Barlow found himself turning to the prospect pool after Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff lost key players to the free agent market on July 1.

“As a young player in the Jets organization today, I’m very excited about the opportunities that are in front of me and I’ve been working very hard this offseason to take full advantage of those opportunities,” Cheveldayoff said.

The Jets are missing several powerhouse players from their veteran core, including top-six forwards Sean Monahan (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Tyler Toffoli (San Jose Sharks), so Cheveldayoff’s comments are exactly what a forward prospect like Barlow, the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, wants to hear.

“It’s obviously positive to hear those kinds of things; you just take it and run with it and I’m going to do the best I can and be ready for it,” Barlow said at Winnipeg’s development camp last month. “I’m working towards my goal of playing in the NHL. I’m just doing the best I can. I know there are definitely steps along the way and there’s a learning curve to be had.”

The 19-year-old has an uphill battle to make an NHL roster this season. A back injury early in his third season with Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League limited him to just 50 games, but he still managed to score 40 goals. Barlow made the playoffs and then made his professional hockey debut with Manitoba of the American Hockey League, posting three points (one goal, two assists) in three games.

“It was an up-and-down year,” Barlow said. “I had an injury that kept me out for about a month and a half, which was unfortunate. I came back, had a strong finish, I thought.

“Unfortunately, it was a short playoff run for us, but another opportunity came up with the Manitoba Moose. It was a great experience for me to get to play a couple games there, be around the guys, get to know (coach Mark Morrison) and the assistants here — how they run things, it’s been great. I’ve carried that over to the summer and just worked on it.”

Jets captain Adam Lowry scored 45 goals in his fourth and final junior season with Swift Current of the Western Hockey League in 2012-13. The forward, now 31, shared his experiences with 35 other prospects at the development camp.

“(Lowry) talked about how he was one of the best players on his team at that level in his junior year,” Winnipeg director of player development Jimmy Roy said. “I think he had 40 goals and 40-something assists, you know? And he came in and said, ‘My first year (professional), I had (one assist in nine games) in the American league.’ So, he talked about understanding what his role is and understanding all of that in (his) development.”

Barlow knows he has to do more than just find the back of the net, which he has excelled at with 116 goals in 168 OHL games. It starts with keeping up with the tempo of the game.

“I think my skating has come a long way since I was first drafted,” Barlow said. “I still have a lot of improvement to do, but I think I’m taking the right steps. I think I’m starting to get a little bit more in tune with my body.

“And think about the game at a higher tempo. Being around the Jets organization for a year now, being around higher-level guys and older guys with that IQ, I think it really helped me learn faster and was beneficial for me.”

It remains to be seen whether Barlow will be able to play in the NHL this season, but he is doing his part to prepare for that chance.

“I think it’s just being ready for that opportunity,” he said. “Just preparing myself the best I can be at my age right now. I think this is a big breakout season for me.”