Jet Greaves Explained

Jet Greaves
Birth Date:30 March 2001
Birth Place:Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:179
Position:Goaltender
Catches:Left
League:NHL
Team:Columbus Blue Jackets
Prospect Team:Cleveland Monsters
Prospect League:AHL
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2022

Jet Greaves (pronounced ;[1] born March 30, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Greaves made his NHL debut on April 4, 2023, in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the process, he set the record for most saves by a Columbus goaltender in their debut match.

Playing career

Born and raised in Cambridge, Ontario, Greaves grew up playing for minor league teams in the Cambridge area. His play for the Cambridge Hawks led to Greaves being selected by the Barrie Colts in the third round, 56th overall in the 2017 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft.[2] Greaves spent the season following his OHL draft selection with the Guelph Hurricanes of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League before joining the Colts for the 2018–19 OHL season.[3] In his rookie season, Greaves was named to the OHL's First All-Rookie Team.[4] Greaves would ultimately spend two seasons with Barrie, splitting the net in relatively equal appearances with Kai Edmonds in his rookie season, and Artūrs Šilovs in his sophomore campaign (despite being expected to be the team's starter in his second year).[5] The OHL cancelled its 2020–21 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario; Greaves did not sign with an out-of-province or international team during this stoppage, and as a result, did not play hockey in what would have been his third OHL season.[6]

Greaves was never selected in a National Hockey League (NHL) draft, although he was first eligible to be drafted in 2019.[7] Despite not playing competitive hockey in what would have been the 2020–21 season, Greaves was signed to a professional contract by the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League, the top affiliate club of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.[4] He would make his professional debut on October 23, 2021, making 40 saves in a 2–1 win over the Belleville Senators.[8] Greaves' first professional season would be split between the Monsters and the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL. Although he was not the primary goalie in the Blue Jackets' prospects system, Greaves impressed the team with his play, and was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the club on February 20, 2022.[9]

Entering his second professional season, Greaves was expected to serve as Cleveland's primary backup goaltender behind starter Daniil Tarasov.[10] However, he would ultimately play more games than Tarasov and cement himself as the team's main goalie throughout the season. On January 11, 2023, Greaves was called up by the Blue Jackets on an emergency basis after Tarasov (now with Columbus) suffered an injury, although he would not ultimately appear in any games with the team during this stint.[11] On April 2, as a reward for his play over the past two seasons, Greaves was told after serving backup for that evenings Monsters game that he would be called up, and was later told that he would make his NHL debut starting against his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs on April 4.[12] In his debut, Greaves would stop 46 of 49 shots faced in a 4–2 loss to Toronto. Greaves' play was praised by fans and media after the match, and his 46 save performance was the fifth most in an NHL debut since 1955–56; in the process, he also set a team record for most saves recorded in a debut.[12] [13]

Personal life

Jet Greaves is biracial. His mom is of European descent, while his father is of distant African origin. Greaves' younger brother, Kai, is also a hockey player, having played in the British Columbia Hockey League for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and currently playing for the Prince George Spruce Kings.[14] Growing up, Greaves was a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.[12] He would often attend games, and as a teenager was particularly fond of Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen.[12]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLOTLMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2016–17Cambridge Winter HawksGOJHL2020118301.53.950
2017–18Guelph HurricanesGOJHL35102301,94511243.46.899302881208.14.778
2018–19Barrie ColtsOHL2771231,4117913.36.911
2019–20Barrie ColtsOHL33231521,77311823.99.888
2021–22Kalamazoo WingsECHL15 10 5 0 847 43 0 3.05 .907
2021–22Cleveland MonstersAHL29 12 12 3 1,586 75 1 2.84 .905
2022–23Cleveland MonstersAHL43 19 16 5 2,419 124 2 3.08 .899
2022–23Columbus Blue JacketsNHL1 0 1 0 59 3 0 3.05 .939
2023–24Cleveland MonstersAHL46 30 12 4 2,684 131 1 2.93 .91013 8 5 831 30 1 2.17 .926
2023–24Columbus Blue JacketsNHL9 3 6 0 516 30 0 3.49 .908
NHL totals10 3 7 0 575 33 0 3.44 .912

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Colts graduate Jet Greaves signs with Blue Jackets . . Ontario Hockey League . February 21, 2022 . April 9, 2023.
  2. Web site: Barrie Colts add 13 new players to the stable . Simcoe . . April 10, 2017 . April 9, 2023.
  3. Web site: Brown . Josh . The OHL 21: Prospect watch . . . November 21, 2017 . April 9, 2023.
  4. Web site: Monsters Sign Cassels, Greaves And Leblanc To AHL Contracts . . . July 30, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
  5. Web site: Brown . Josh . OHL: How about one year without drama in Peterborough? . . . September 17, 2019 . April 9, 2023.
  6. Web site: Phillips . Kim . Barrie Colts benched as OHL cancels 2020-21 season . . . April 21, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
  7. Web site: Hockey Operations Guidelines – NHL.com – NHL Headquarters. National Hockey League. April 9, 2023.
  8. Web site: Cleveland Monsters edge Belleville Senators on Jet Greaves' 40 saves . . . October 23, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
  9. Web site: CBJ sign G Jet Greaves to three-year entry level contract . . . February 20, 2022 . April 9, 2023.
  10. Web site: Hedger . Brian . Blue Jackets: Five things we learned at Traverse City Prospects Tournament . . . September 20, 2022 . April 9, 2023.
  11. Web site: Betts . Matt . Cambridge goalie Jet Greaves called up by Columbus Blue Jackets . . . January 11, 2023 . April 9, 2023.
  12. Web site: Svoboda . Jeff . SvoNotes: Jet takes flight in his Blue Jackets debut . . . April 5, 2023 . April 9, 2023.
  13. Web site: Portzline . Aaron . Blue Jackets rookie goaltender Jet Greaves shines in 'really special' hometown NHL debut . . . April 5, 2023 . April 9, 2023.
  14. Web site: Spruce Kings acquire Kai Greaves from Alberni Valley . . . September 22, 2022 . April 9, 2023.