Kupari and Barron are RFAs. I imagine Kupari will sign a 2 year deal, Barron probably 1, maybe 2. We can really open up some breathing room if we move Schenn and Stanley. So hopefully those moves are made and that gives us more room to go a little higher with Ehlers to secure him and also bring in Toews. We would also have room for another depth signing, preferably a 3LD.
With Toews if he's up to game shape he's probably looking at a 3C/PK1/PP2 role provided he's up for it. At least until Lowry comes back. If he can't hack it then Barron is likely in that role. Chibs and Lambert will likely have to fight it out for bottom 6 roles if Ehlers is back in, if not then 1 of them has a shot at 2nd line. We may also bring Rashevsky over from Russia and given his pedigree he may have the inside track on a 2nd line wing role without Ehlers.
Yager, Julien and Barlow likely anchor the Moose top lines. With Lambert or Chibs going up or down depending on how they preform. I wouldn't expect either of Barlow, Julien or Yager to get much Jet time after training camp unless they take massive steps forward this offseason. It's more likely they spend an entire year in the A while Chibs and Lambert get longer looks with the big club. The Jets have rarely given players directly out of Junior long looks with the big team unless they are coming in with very high end skillset like Ehlers. Pretty much everyone has spent time in the A, especially if it looks like they are more likely top 6 bound. Jets won't be feeding a 20 year old top 6 minutes out of junior and they don't want them getting bottom 6 minutes at 20 generally. They want them getting top 6 minutes in the A to start, get used to the systems and then eventually work their way in.
Kupari was ok at the defensive game, I wouldn't say he was altogether impactful.
That's where I see Barron being the kind of player the Jets should invest in. 3/4 years because he's improving his skating every year, it seems.
A 4C that can move up the lineup. I'm not sure Kupari and Gus are exactly that.
I am not against trading Kupari for a different kind of center, maybe one with a higher ceiling as a 1st round pick.
I wonder if Toews is the kind of name brand player the Jets try to replace Ehlers with. Winning the opening draw on a PP opens up the shooters, one of whom is Scheifele.
To me it's 2C or 4C, with Namestnikov as a safety valve. Lowry to me showed 2C qualities outplaying Schenn and shutting down Hintz. I think if Toews joined the Jets he wouldn't get the best on best matchups Lowry still would. So maybe that is the 3C in the matrix. Toews on an energy line, as you want your best PKers to be your best skaters, seems harder to fathom.
I agree about Yager it's highly unlikely he's ready to go in camp. Just think it would be cool if he did. I would still like to see Barlow-Yager-Lambert as the opening day top line for the Moose.
Little more optimistic about CHL centers being able to play center at the AHL level. Lambert I don't think plays center at all this year, but tries to weaponize his speed like Ehlers.
In their callups I consider Chibrikov more successful than Lambert in impact. Going into camp being in the last year of his ELC I suspect the Jets give Chibrikov a chance to make an impression and have a chance to earn a spot.
Parker Ford was last cut his rookie year, stepped up last year, played ahead of Lambert in the bottom 6. Probably get more hits out of him and JAD than Tanev so there's I think some competition ahead of next season's TC.
3 injured prospects going into the playoffs and Lucius having to retire had some impact on this season.
Only change I'd make on defense is demote Heinola to Moose. Think Fleury and Chynoweth are on the same page. If Salomonsson wins a spot in camp Luke Schenn probably gets traded home to his family unless they move here for the year.
. Are there attitude issues we aren't aware of because a late first seems like an underpayment.
