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GM Chevaldayoff: Expectation vs Strategy

June 18, 2013, 2:08 PM ET [16 Comments]
Peter Tessier
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The worrywarts are out in full force in Winnipeg these days as fans and media await word on some sort of activity from the Jets as it relates player activity. What seems hard to understand, at least for some fans, is why there has been no activity?

It’s a valid concern but the argument goes both ways. In terms of priorities signing any unsigned players from the 2011 draft was top of the list followed by UFA players on the team, planning for any possible compliance buy out, RFA qualifying offers, UFA signings on July 5th. Is there really a need for panic or concern?

Not in my opinion but activity and communication are paramount to ensuring fans and media do not focus on things the team has no interest in discussing- like last week.

It has taken working the phones by Ken Weibe and Gary Lawless to alert fans there has been some communication between the Jets and various players agents of key RFA players Zach Bogosian and Bryan Little. Anyone heard from Wheeler lately?

The trouble starts because this fan base is an anxious group and there is little to report. The Jets have been tantalizingly close to the post season and after 15 years of no NHL hockey ‘close’ is only good enough up to now. Moving into the 2013-14 season the fans expect to see playoff hockey and that’s regardless of whether the development plan for the Jets works that way.

With that being said what happens between now and July 5th is going to say a lot about the capabilities of GM Kevin Chevaldayoff to the fans. So far there has only been the signing of three minor league guys to the St. John’s IceCaps and the release, or loss, of Zach Yuen. He was a player the Jets traded up to draft in the 2011 class and subsequently never signed and will re-enter the draft this year.

The Jets have 12 players signed to a contract next season so something has to happen, “but when?” the fans ask.

Twitter is showing up with drive-by jokes about Chevy and his inactivity or waiting for the waiver wire. The hashtag #whatchevydidtoday is getting bantered about with some rather funny comments. In the end the inactivity leads to fan confusion, frustration and soon growing criticism towards the team and it’s management.

Fans need to be realistic about the situation the Jets find themselves in as the NHL season inches to it’s late conclusion. Patrick Williams of NHL.com, one of the sagest minds in the Jets media says, “For a team who has missed the post season 6 years in a row should any change been seen as too drastic?” (My paraphrase)

Patrick’s point is a valid one because when does an organization with ownership, management, and coaching changes all within two years finally take a good long look at the roster? Now would be the fitting time and I suspect the fans can expect changes to begin very soon. The opportunity for change is there, no drastic moves have been made so far and that’s probably because other things have to happen first...but once they do- get ready.

When the compliance buyouts begin, the rodeo for most of the NHL will start as well. It gives GMs the ‘lay of the land’ for who is available heading into the UFA period. The Jets with solid finances, cap space and roster spots could be one of the most aggressive teams if the right players are available.

One thing to remember about compliance buyouts, it’s not that the players are bad or under performing to their skill level, it’s that they do not perform to their existing contracts. Having the option to play on a team that is trending up can be appealing and I would suspect the ‘selling’ job on Winnipeg and the Jets has already been done behind the scenes to many agents.

While the strategy might not meet the fans’ immediate expectations they should not be surprised. It’s the behaviour they should by now be long accustomed to from the ownership and management of the Winnipeg Jets. It’s a methodical, strategic approach done very quietly. To date it’s not headline grabbing but there’s no reason to say it’s ineffective, at least right now.

That might all change after this off-season though and the Jets and Kevin Chevaldayoff would do well to take notice of what the fans are saying in the extended period of inactivity. The fans have faith in the team and organization now the GM needs to provide the fans a reason to have faith in him.
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