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Jets roster next season and beyond presents challenges

June 6, 2018, 8:53 AM ET [64 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
So the debate raged and even more so as I went on vacation and took a well-needed break from thinking about sports and teams and more. I loved the debate within the comments and some of the teams but I see some holes and areas that have to be improved upon. This is not simply in a 22 man roster that is on the bench most nights but more how it’s arrived at given current contracts and more.

So I will review some that I liked and at the end point out what I think should be done.


From Kunit:

Connor Scheifele Wheeler
Ehlers Appleton Laine
Perreault Little Roslovic
Tanev Lowry Armia
Lemieux Copp

Morrissey Trouba
Niku Byfuglien
Kulikov Myers
Chiarot Poolman

Hellebuyck
Mason
Comrie

The big mystery here is given the current cap hit and space what do Trouba and Morrissey come in at? The Jets cannot carry four players in the press box so Lemiuex is likely still on the Moose. Also, how did Appleton get to second line status so quickly without having played a single NHL game?

In essence this is a very similar team to this past season but injecting some youth with Appleton and Niku. That’s a good thing but does this roster improve upon last years?

From The Ultimate Jet:

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Laine-Tavares-Armia
Ehlers-Petan-Roslovic
Copp-Lowry-Tanev

Morrissey-Trouba
Myers-Byfuglien
Kulikov-Poolman

Hellebuyck
Comrie


Tavares? Really??? Where does Cheyc find the spare 10 million for that and keep both Trouba and Morrissey? There simply is no way to do this even if you do trade Bryan Little as it appears TUJ has. I’m intrigued by the Ehlers Petan Roslovic line but again look above and see Tavares anchored by two of the slower Jets players.

Dreaming is good but this one is far too much of a pipe dream with the pipe being full of some substance that I don’t even want to know.

From McJags:

Connor - Scheifele - Wheeler
Ehlers - Stastny - Laine
Domi - Little - Roslovic
Tanev - Lowry - Armia
Appleton
Lemieux


Morrissey - Risto
Morrow - Byfuglien
Kulikov - Myers

Chairot
Niku

Hele
Mason

And speaking of pipe dreams McJags is having a good one too. I’m not sure why Chevy trades for Domi and hopes he can keep the cap stable, however you have moved Trouba so that frees up 6 million plus but that’s taken by Ristolainen’s 5.4 million. Is this worth saving a million?



I am also intrigued that you kept Morrow in Enstrom’s spot. While he will be cheaper than Enstrom he’s a down grade and I could see Kulikov moving up as I can’t see Niku being kept in the farm again, at least all season. In this case I could see Morrow kept and he and Niku fighting it out to play with Myers.

From 2.0

I appreciate that you used the armchair GM feature so for those that did not click it here’s what he had.

Connor 925k Scheifele 6.125 Wheeler 5.6
Ehlers 6.0 Little 5.291 Laine 925k
Roslovic 894k Lowry 3.5 Perreault 4.125
Tanev 1.0 Copp 1.0 Armia 2.0
Mcleod 1.0

Morrissey 5.0 Trouba 6.8
Niku 775k Buff 7.6
Kulikov 4.33 Myers 5.5
Morrow 1.0 Poolman 1.4

Hellebuyck 5.33
Comrie 750k

I’m of the same thinking that Trouba comes in around 6.8 too but I think you are a little low on Morrissey, close enough though. The number I find the most intriguing is what you have for Lowry it’s a big raise but not out of line for some teams but I don’t think he gets that much, only if a shorter deal. I could see around 2.75 or a bit higher over 5 years as the Jets love his size and diversity but he’s not going to get paid like a point producer. This could be a key deal for the team going forward as should Chevy get a bargain he could put himself in a great position.

Ask this- how much does Lowry compare to Perreault? Here’s the answer:



Maybe is worth more than I suggested? Also- where’s Mason?


From Ross77:

Again, appreciate using the armchair GM feature and here’s what he has.

Ehlers 6.0 Scheifele 6.125 Wheeler 5.6
Connor 925k Roslovic 894k Laine 925k
Perreault 4.125 Little 5.291 Puljujaevi 925k
Tanev 1.5 Lowry 4.2 Copp 1.0
De Leo 1.2 Lipon 1.0

Morrissey 5.2 Trouba 6.0
Kulikov 4.33 Buff 7.6
Niku 775K Poolman 1.5
Morrow 900k

Hellebuyck 5.6
Mason 4.1

This is over the estimated cap limit of 75m by 1.6 million so hopefully it goes up as suspected. You managed to move Myers and grab a great prospect from Chiarelli so if that comes true you are a prophet and incredibly creative. I’m not sure though if he would be the target although I could see Edmonton being crazy enough to move him. With the players on the wing the Jets have would they not be better targeting a different position?

I do think you are low on Trouba’s salary and pretty darn close to what Morrissey and Hellebuyck will make on their next deals. It’s a solid effort.


Before I get into my actual roster I want to present a few thoughts first on how Cheveldayoff may have to look at the roster and what that means for the final product.

First- the Jets have some weaknesses that have to be addressed the bottom pairing defense in any combination is not where it needs to be and does get exposed.

Second-the Jets have the option of making a bottom six that emulates what they finished with but without Stastny filling the vital role between Ehlers and Laine.

Third- the Jets have to get growth from some players and have them slide into roles.

Fourth- what is the future for Petan and Dano? It would seem that some guarantee of role and ice time would be important for each of them should they want to continue as Jets but that’s also something that’s hard to guarantee.


The roster as it looks now has an interesting make up that buys Chevy another year with some key pieces being affordable entry-level deals and others not quite at the end of their favorable deals. What Chevy does now, should he choose to extend players like Connor and Laine early, could have huge effects on what he can do later- yes that’s a statement of the obvious but one that should not be forgotten.

To that point is Connor a product of himself or playing with a top 10 centre in the league and top 5 right wing? While no one talks about extending Connor right away as they do with Laine, he can be but do you as a team executive make that bet or see if he produces again, like Laine did?
Of the existing forward RFAs, Tanev Armia, Dano, Petan, and Lowry, will they all be back? Dano seems to be on his third team where he cannot gain the coach’s trust and while Tanev found a role and some production on a very surprising yet oh so effective third line, is he worth taking up space from others?

Could Tanev not be replaced with Petan or even Dano?



and…



Another aspect to consider when looking at possible players to have an increased role is that it seems very unlikely that Stastny can fit into the longterm plans of the team despite his fit with Ehlers and Laine. For Stastny to be a Jets player in the upcoming season he will have to make a big concession on his contract. In the past Chevy has been able to find nice deals for vets in that age category with Jokinen and Stafford signing two-year deals at 4.1 million each and Mason being the current Jet with that kind of deal. Is there room for one more and would Stastny be amicable to that kind of concession?

The challenge that I see with the group of RFAs is aside from Lowry is there much more to be gained? The Jets roster needs to be adjusted to improve beyond weaknesses from past season so the question of the two players with the most ice time of those four not named Lowry are Armia and Tanev. Can the Jets get better by moving on from those two players and would they be better by subbing in Dano and Petan?

The defense has some similar complications given the loss of Enstrom but perhaps there’s excitement about what could be. While it may take time and an impressive pre-season for Paul Maurice to gain trust in him, Sami Niku is the most preferred option to move up from within. He has to come to camp ready to win a job as the spot will not be handed to him. It would seem safe to assume Joe Morrow will be qualified and brought back as insurance, much like how he was acquired at the trade deadline.
Tucker Poolman needs a contract and with the crowd on the right side what happens looking down behind Trouba, Byfuglien, and Myers? You can never have too much depth right?

The biggest question that fans often have is: does Myer’s and his cap friendly salary make him the best option to move to accommodate the future? That’s a good question and it’s one that could be answered in the near future.

The goaltending situation seems to be something that will play itself out naturally with Connor Hellebuyck getting a new deal and Steve Mason as back up again but should Chevy get a chance to move Mason for salary cap reasons will he take it, even if he has to retain some salary? What would that retention even be- half of it?

As you can see it’s not an easy situation but it’s not dire however the moves that are made this summer will be ones that could put the Jets in a dire situation in the future or a very good one. I’ll present my team in the next piece and how I think Chevy can do it for this coming season and beyond.
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