To make the next step, what do we need?

[ps241]

The Jets can have 10 million a year, which marquee FA is coming?

I believe no marquee free agent will be coming to Winnipeg this off season and I say it because that is what our history tells me.

 

[ps241]

I'm probably in the minority, but I'm not sure they need to make substantive changes to take the next step. What they needed was Hellebuyck to match or outplay Oettinger and the rest of the lineup to be fully healthy, including 13, 27, 55 and 44.

Biggest risk is that they take a step back with Ehlers' departure.

This is exactly how I see it too.

 

[raideralex99]

I believe no marquee free agent will be coming to Winnipeg this off season and I say it because that is what our history tells me.

The Jets don't need a big marquee FA ... remember Stastny was not a big marquee center at TDL.
If Ehlers doesn't sign I think Chevy makes a trade to get a 2C.
The board keeps mentioning how Chevy took Blake to the cleaners on the PLD trade when in fact thats the going rate ... a top 6 winger and 2 bottom 6 players who they were going to put on waivers to get under the SC.
I'm one of the few who has no problem losing Ehlers if he want more than $8M ... the Jets can get a decent center for $8M which would help more especially in the playoffs.

 

[Whileee]

If the Jets lose Ehlers and look for a replacement in free agency I hope they don't overpay for Boeser.

A couple of other options...

Pius Suter... Energy player that can add secondary offense. Can play C.

Yanni Gourde... Will probably be a lot of suitors for him, but TB will likely not be able to pay the market rate. Jets would have to overpay, but he's still very good and would add spark to the middle 6.

 

[10Ducky10]

KFC Scheif Ehlers
Perfetti Volare Lambo
Nino Lowry Iafallo
Barron Names Chibs
Kup

JMo DD
Sammy Pionk
Fleury/Stan Schenn/Miller

Hopefully Salmon plays on the Jets before the playoffs as well. I honestly think Rash will be on the roster but not sure where he plays. Arnie can bring in whichever D man for the 3rd pairing depending on opposition and other things. Keeps them all fresh and in the game.

 

[DRW204]

I believe no marquee free agent will be coming to Winnipeg this off season and I say it because that is what our history tells me.

sure, but the OP was saying how the Jets can use 8m saved from Ehlers. 8m is alotta dough for a Fwd, would probably be one of the highest UFA contracts this year. hence why i am posing the question, what UFA Fwd are the Jets signing at the 8m level.

 

[Buffdog]

Seriously give it up with calling down Hellebuyck and the goaltending.
Check out the other goalies they are giving up the same type of goals. Screen shot, defections. top shelf majority of the goalies can't stop those unless its by luck.
Anderson had the best save % after 2 series now he has a .750 save %. in 2 games vs the Panthers.
Oettinger has given up the same type of goals as Helle or how was Binnington in the Worlds Canada lost because he was screened on the first goal and the second goal was top shelf.
You sound like a broken record. Helle is not the reason why the Jets were knocked out of the playoffs ... it was the lack of scoring and special teams ... remember the only 2 wins were the Helle two shutouts.

I don't think that you're factoring how much this team relies on Helle to be Helle. He wasn't bad in the Dallas series, but the team needs him to steal a game here and there

He's a superstar... his stats this post season weren't to that level

 

[ps241]

sure, but the OP was saying how the Jets can use 8m saved from Ehlers. 8m is alotta dough for a Fwd, would probably be one of the highest UFA contracts this year. hence why i am posing the question, what UFA Fwd are the Jets signing at the 8m level.

Yea I hear you and I am not trying to be a buzz kill but we are 15 years in and the marquee UFA’s don’t choose Winnipeg in July.

 

[RabidOne]

KFC Scheif Ehlers
Perfetti Volare Lambo
Nino Lowry Iafallo
Barron Names Chibs
Kup

JMo DD
Sammy Pionk
Fleury/Stan Schenn/Miller

Hopefully Salmon plays on the Jets before the playoffs as well. I honestly think Rash will be on the roster but not sure where he plays. Arnie can bring in whichever D man for the 3rd pairing depending on opposition and other things. Keeps them all fresh and in the game.

Rashevsky’s numbers say about 30 points a year. Hope he comes over, would love to see what he brings.

 

[Dirtyclapper]

I believe no marquee free agent will be coming to Winnipeg this off season and I say it because that is what our history tells me.

Not a centre but I believe boeser would, he's likely going to the wild unless they don't wanna pay him

 

[ps241]

Not a centre but I believe boeser would, he's likely going to the wild unless they don't wanna pay him

Boeser finally has his freedom and he will not willingly choose to live in Winnipeg, we have learned this time and time again. The highish end UFA market is not in play for us. We have learned to do it other ways and fortunately our GM is very use to this.

 

[Gm0ney]

The Jets don't need a big marquee FA ... remember Stastny was not a big marquee center at TDL.
If Ehlers doesn't sign I think Chevy makes a trade to get a 2C.
The board keeps mentioning how Chevy took Blake to the cleaners on the PLD trade when in fact thats the going rate ... a top 6 winger and 2 bottom 6 players who they were going to put on waivers to get under the SC.
I'm one of the few who has no problem losing Ehlers if he want more than $8M ... the Jets can get a decent center for $8M which would help more especially in the playoffs.

Stastny was not available until the last second. The Jets were after Brassard - and probably going to land him, until Vegas pulled out the rug by facilitating a 3-way deal between the Sens and Pens. Stastny was one of the biggest deadline deals that year.

 

[Buffdog]

Boeser finally has his freedom and he will not willingly choose to live in Winnipeg, we have learned this time and time again. The highish end UFA market is not in play for us. We have learned to do it other ways and fortunately our GM is very use to this.

Devil's advocate:

Boeser and Pionk are both Minnesota boys and played together in junior and against each other in college

Vancouver ownership can be a bit of a shit show, and who knows how it impacted contracts talks. Maybe Brock is sick of it, and his buddy Neil tells him what kind of first class treatment Jets and their families get

At some point, the allure of a cup contender, rabid but not psycho fanbase (cough cough Toronto cough) and amazing culture/ownership will start to attract a certain type of player. Probably a hockey nerd with a young family

 

[Xavier Laflamme]

If the Jets lose Ehlers and look for a replacement in free agency I hope they don't overpay for Boeser.

A couple of other options...

Pius Suter... Energy player that can add secondary offense. Can play C.

Yanni Gourde... Will probably be a lot of suitors for him, but TB will likely not be able to pay the market rate. Jets would have to overpay, but he's still very good and would add spark to the middle 6.

Lets just hope we don't lose Ehlers because if we do we are a much worse team next season without him, there isn't a replacement we can get that could match what he brings to the table.

Devil's advocate:

Boeser and Pionk are both Minnesota boys and played together in junior and against each other in college

Also Brock and Jets management have a very good relationship, Chevy has spoken about this before, though that being said if we can keep Ehlers and with Rash possibly coming over and needing to slot in Chibby and maybe even Lambo we don't really have much of a need for Brock.

 

[Dirtyclapper]

Boeser finally has his freedom and he will not willingly choose to live in Winnipeg, we have learned this time and time again. The highish end UFA market is not in play for us. We have learned to do it other ways and fortunately our GM is very use to this.

I believe he would, he's from Minnesota and he's a lake boy just like most of our team and province. Very blue collar upbringing, in this video his mom said that he was likely going to be drafted by Winnipeg originally but Kyle Connor fell to us and the rest is history. He played at UND and literally says I fell in love with North Dakota. Very awesome human who I think would fit in with our group, he isn't the fastest skater but he can shoot the puck with the best of them. He would make up the points lost from Ehlers. His father passed away from Parkinson's and it's been known he wants to be closer to home and his family. He's likely to sign with Minnesota but if it doesn't happen I think Winnipeg will be his second choice.

 

[ps241]

Devil's advocate:

Boeser and Pionk are both Minnesota boys and played together in junior and against each other in college

Vancouver ownership can be a bit of a shit show, and who knows how it impacted contracts talks. Maybe Brock is sick of it, and his buddy Neil tells him what kind of first class treatment Jets and their families get

At some point, the allure of a cup contender, rabid but not psycho fanbase (cough cough Toronto cough) and amazing culture/ownership will start to attract a certain type of player. Probably a hockey nerd with a young family

Lets just hope we don't lose Ehlers because if we do we are a much worse team next season without him, there isn't a replacement we can get that could match what he brings to the table.


Also Brock and Jets management have a very good relationship, Chevy has spoken about this before, though that being said if we can keep Ehlers and with Rash possibly coming over and needing to slot in Chibby and maybe even Lambo we don't really have much of a need for Brock.

Ehlers is probably our best shot for one of the top assets since he has played here and we are much better at retaining than the alternative.

I believe he would, he's from Minnesota and he's a lake boy just like most of our team and province. Very blue collar upbringing, in this video his mom said that he was likely going to be drafted by Winnipeg originally but Kyle Connor fell to us and the rest is history. He played at UND and literally says I fell in love with North Dakota. Very awesome human who I think would fit in with our group, he isn't the fastest skater but he can shoot the puck with the best of them. He would make up the points lost from Ehlers. His father passed away from Parkinson's and it's been known he wants to be closer to home and his family. He's likely to sign with Minnesota but if it doesn't happen I think Winnipeg will be his second choice.

Never say never I guess . I just ask myself when was the last time we added a plug and play 55 point top six forward UFA on July 1st to the Jets line up? Obviously Chevy will give it a go…..but…..Personally when it comes to off season exercises like this I start by ignoring or removing the top 15-20 UFA’s then I get to work. It turns out that is where the Jets generally end up starting from anyways.

At some point when I get more time I will post some thoughts around a go forward plan without the UFA’s.

It’s not all bad…….National overpay day for UFA’s usually ends badly for the teams that are big spenders.

 

[GaryPoppins]

I do think Cole can replace Ehlers overall impact. Maybe not next year but I'd argue he will by the year after.

But yes I'd agree that we have Noone that is ready to replace Cole if Cole takes Ehelers role.

Ehlers speed creates something Perfetti never can or will. They’re different players and teams play is differently when he’s on the ice.

 

[Thechozen1]

He played in the NCAA, which low-scoring and has a low number of games. He led his NCAA team in scoring in his last two years in college and in his AHL team in his rookie season, in an abbreviated season.

So he has been in an offensive lead role on teams when he was younger, but hasn't really had that opportunity at the NHL level.

I think a key development was his shift to C this season, and the comments from Chevy that it might be an important development for the roster going forward.

Not saying he’s the the next carter Verhaeghe, but he wasn’t lighting the league on fire until he got a true opportunity in Florida.

Sometimes teams luck out with late bloomers.

 

[ps241]

He played in the NCAA, which low-scoring and has a low number of games. He led his NCAA team in scoring in his last two years in college and in his AHL team in his rookie season, in an abbreviated season.

So he has been in an offensive lead role on teams when he was younger, but hasn't really had that opportunity at the NHL level.

I think a key development was his shift to C this season, and the comments from Chevy that it might be an important development for the roster going forward.

Should we give Barron a shot? Seems like a low cost option to at least try.

I call this the “rare earth minerals” expansion draft strategy and this is where I would like to see the Jets focus WAY more energy. Some examples:

William Karlsson buried for three season in Columbus putting up about 25 points a season then at 24 he gets taken by Vegas in the expansion draft. They put him on the top line and top PP unit and he puts up 78 points in 82 games as their #1 centre. He just needed to be slotted right, and play with good players to produce.

Chandler Stephenson, modest numbers in juniors, modest numbers in the AHL (probably not on the top line), 4th line dud in Washington, Vegas trades for him, by his second season in Vegas his production improves and by season 3 and as a 27 year old he finally becomes a 64 point a season player and key asset in their top 6. He has remained productive since because he finally got moved into the top 6 full time.

Carter Vernaeghe was drafted by Toronto and buried in the AHL until he was in his mid 20’s. Finally gets a cup of coffee in Tampa on the 4th line when he is 24. Traded to Florida and instantly becomes a 50 point player, then grew into a guy that put up over 70 points two seasons in a row and more importantly he has become a PPG player in the playoffs over the last 3 seasons.

Obviously this level of player would not have any form of movement protection and in most cases they are relatively cheap to acquire in trades because they were underutilized on the team that traded them (or didn’t protect them in the expansion draft).

I have been jumping up and down yelling from the rooftop that this is way. The Jets currently have vacancies or need for upgrades in our top 6 at center and on the right wing (If Ehlers leaves). Surely there are players being held back that can produce 50-60 points if given the shot to move into the high rent district and play with Perfetti we just need to focus on identifying them and trading for them.

I would like to see this become a main focus for our organization and this is how I would spend our draft capital in trades. Honestly we have done this to shore up our D core, Dillon (not cheap), and DeMelo (really cheap), but we have not done it to fill top 6 production voids.

This is the area where we can’t be blocked by players not wanting to come here. Beggars can’t be choosers and this is the type of player that will appreciate the chance to play up the line up and earn bigger pay days. It’s also pretty low risk, low cost, if they fail to make the leap they can always remain bottom six asset and they can always be sold as rentals at the deadline to recoup.

Rental deadline is expensive and short lived. Use those same draft capital assets on the rare earth mining and we won’t need rentals to plug holes at the deadline. Plug the holes in the off season and don’t be afraid to churn until we find the gems. BETTER ASSET MANAGMENT please.