While I try to be as professional and disciplined as I can with writing I'm going got violate one of the key tenants of writing that I have heard CBC and former Winnipeg Free Press reporter Bartley Kives say, 'never bring yourself into the story'. Basically don't be Leah McLaren.

Last week in my professional life I was fortunate enough to attend an event with Mark Chipman, Jets controller owner and NHL Governor, and Jim Ludlow, CEO of True North Sports and Entertainment. They were delivering a rare interactive session on leadership and direction within business. As part of their time they offered to take a few questions about the Jets as it's hard to ignore that aspect of what they do. There were two things that stood out.

In a question about the the team, in particular Jacob Trouba, Mr. Chipman extolled a bit on the direction of the roster and said this: "we believe that the roster could likely be younger next season and that by July 1st the team will be much closer to the salary cap".

This information was not asked to be 'kept in the room' and they were obviously comfortable providing it with over 75 people in attendance. But what does it mean? Where does it point curious minds like bloggers and fans?

The obvious though when it comes to age is the loss of Thorburn. He being in his early 30s and a UFA would likely be one change on the roster but where are the others? Mark Stuart should probably be all but finished with time in the NHL. I say that with relief and respect for a guy who played for some time but has watched the game become too fast for his body. It must be hard to realize the end is closer than you wished.

That could open the door for Kyle Connor to be back again and perhaps Jack Roslovic. Now filling the roll of Stuart is that Tucker Poolman?

Let's look at the potential Jets starting roster before we get to the second point.

Ehlers- 21 Scheifele- 24 Wheeler- 31
Laine- 19 Little- 30 Perreault- 29
Connor- 20 Lowry- 24 Armia- 24
Matthias- 29 Roslovic- 20 Dano-22
Petan- 22

Morrissey- 22 Byfuglien- 32
Enstrom- 33 Trouba- 24
Poolman- 24 Myers-27

That age average age of skaters in 25.1 years.

This is all based on the idea that Copp is taken in the expansion draft. It could be Lowry but either way losing either of these guys is not going to shift the needle that far. You can also move the lines around to to your preference by switching Lowry and Roslovic and Armia and Dano, the ages don't change.

On paper that's not a bad looking line up based on skill and talent but there are questions marks such as the 4th line in any form as well as the play of Enstrom, Poolman and the health of Myers. A finally regressing Byfuglien remains a concern too.

That's a young roster.

Now the second part the salary cap change as suggested my Chipman.

How does he add more money to the cap before July one? Only by trade but let's assume that he really means the coming of UFA period and used the July 1 date as a approximate time as he knows that's when salary can be added. I would assume that there will be a Bryan Little extension coming but that won't affect the cap until the next season. After that what else?

Dano, Chiarot and Hellebuyck all need RFA deals and you could include Copp too should he still be with the team. Again, the expansion variable makes it hard to predict with accuracy (if that is even possible). So where does this bigger expense come from?

Let's assume that Chevy knows exactly where his holes to fill are and has a plan to do so. This means trading and as you've read in this space before he and the team may finally have the assets to do so. As Rick Ralph from TSN 1290 has said for some time to make trades you need draft picks and prospects. The Jets have both plus cap room. The Jets have all their picks this year and two in round seven. They have prospects too, and if you look to the roster presented above do they even dare to dangle one of their better ones in a player like Connor should the right return be there?

The best part about what Chipman said is that he indicated change and change in two possible ways, individually or concurrently. This team does need change it's possesses too much talent within it's forward core to be so middling and close to the playoffs.

I suspect that Chevy has had talks, many of them. He's looked at the variables with the expansion draft and trying to see how he can get a player another team does not want to lose for free while convincing Golden Knights GM to take a draft pick or other player to fill the roughly 60 roster spots he has open. Remember, Vegas has to build a farm team too and the Jets have lots of players they can send from the farm system.

Yes it's now an old cliche here in Winnipeg 'the summer of Chevy'. That was supposed to be 2013 to with Little, Bogosian and Wheeler all getting their big RFA deals. He got that done, but can he do something more complex? That's really what this summer requires, not simply signing a UFA or RFA but acquiring the right player given the obvious areas of weakness. If Mr. Chipman is to be believed, then there's probably a target and chances are discussions about that target.

Now, who or what position could that be?

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