When you use Capo and Chis as references for the future your point is murky at best because I know you can’t mean that since they are at best 7-8 types right now. That’s not the future. Size (I am guessing that is your point) without enough NHL talent is filler that doesn’t move the needle. Also I assume you mean Chisholm and he is not big and is in the same zip code size wise as Morrissey, Pionk, Heinola (all four are listed between 6’ and 6’2 and between 185-195 pounds on the Jets website)? Even Capo is listed as 6’2‘and 200 and that is not much different?
Moving past splitting hairs on the size of Capo and Chis what about TNSE leads you to believe our future is different than our present? Our roster as constructed took 13 years in the making. In 13 years we have drafted 1.5 defensmen that are/were big and good enough to play in the top 4 in the NHL (Trouba and maybe….maybe Samberg). If Samberg doesn’t stick in the top 4 we have zero big D men drafted that still play in our top 4. Their drafting track record based on your priority would tell me it’s never going to come together. When we draft for size we are just as likely to end up with the Cederholm or Stanley types which are not the future. As recently as 2020 the team still drafted Kuzmin so they didn’t get the memo about avoiding smallish D men.
Our trading track record for skilled enough D men with size is very sketchy. Dillon checks the box but for every Dillon we are just as likely to end up with a Schmidt, or a Pionk.
Our future under a Chipman Chevy tandem is crystal clear to me. Love it or hate it they are going to keep drafting BPA, trade for BPA, and they will dress the best six D men and if that means they have two or three players that are 6’ 185 they won’t compromise to play lesser talent with more size.
Agree on all points.
Would just add that according to various pundits around camp, Heinola is now 6.1 and at least 185 -- and was nicknamed "The Finnish Tank" by at least one local journo, so he ain't a wee kid anymore.
Like Peak Pionk, who has arguably been our nastiest and pestiest D when on form since Trouba left, it's maybe more about the size of the fight in the dog than we realize.
A Heinola / Samberg combo should be plenty big and skilled enough to do well on a second / third pairing intially, as they get bedded in, and if a solid second pairing is their ceiling, that's still rare enough in the Jets' recent drafting to be a significant draft success and value asset.
Anyway, looking forward to this thread reopening with some real fanfare in a few months' time when Ville is back on his feet and hopefully challenging again for a spot. At least they now have a better read on his growth as a player and where he might fit into a revamped lineup in the future.
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