By now the word has spread as it usually does after CBC's Elliotte Friedman posts his 30 thoughts column. It's an excellent piece gleaned from bits and pieces of information Friedman hears and reads and is always assembled well. This week there was some Jets news that should not be taken out of context as to intent or motivation.
What exists in Winnipeg is an odd and somewhat confusing situation, one with two distinct methods of resolution that may happen consecutively or concurrently. One part will be discussed now while the other will be saved for the future.
Kevin Chevaldayoff has done two interview where he has suggested, (by way of not denying) there might or could be a trade involving the Winnipeg Jets. The one I heard was on the TSN 1290 afternoon slot with Hustler and Lawless. Chevy came out and all but said they were looking to make a deal. What he really said was that there hasn't been a deal worth consumating.
Today Friedman posts this bit.
7. This could be a pure fluke, but the Jets had three scouts at Vanek's last game in Buffalo -- Mark Dobson (who is their director of pro scouting), Peter Ratchuk and Pierre Groulx. Groulx, Montreal's former goaltending coach, is working for them on a consulting basis while spending two weeks a month with Munich Red Bull of the German League.
Let's step into the realm of speculation now. The Jets are struggling, they don't have an indentity nor do they have an elite calibre forward and the goaltending continues to be suspect. Where the Jets looking at Vanek, Miller or something else?
What we don't know was if the Jets scouts had been following the Sabres and looking at more than just one game. If the Sabres had spoken to the Jets about Vanek and they were prepared to eat the current 1.5 Million in Vanek's salary as they have for the Islanders what would the Jets have to do to fit him in?
The Jets would have to absorb 4.25 in cap space and 4.9 in salary with just only 1 million in available cap space. Who do they move to fit Vanek and why bring a goaltending pro? Some one would have to be moved but who? I just don't think that's who they were looking at but with a goaltending coach/scout there logic dictates it was Miller.
If Buffalo wants to get younger and reset perhaps trading Miller is a good idea but a team with 3.9 million tied up in an average goalie for 3 more seasons after this one seems like an unlikely trading parnter. I don't see value to trading anything for Miller if you are the Winnipeg Jets. However two players catch my eye and both of whom are free agents in 1 or two years.
Drew Stafford and Steve Ott are 28 and 31 respectively, both with reasonable contracts. Last trade deadline there was much speculation about Stafford and the Jets. So much so that it's believed the Jets wanted to do Burmistrov for Stafford. The deal never happened but that doesn't mean it can't, but how do the Jets absorb 4 million? More importantly would they be able or want to move Burmistrov to get Stafford?
The other option could be Ott, a guy who plays with an edge, agitates, and creates a bit of havoc on the ice. It's the kind of player the Jets want in Thorburn, Peluso and perhaps to some degree Tangradi and aren't getting from any of them. Ott's salary is a bit more easier to handle and he is a UFA after this year.
By now there can be little doubt that Chevy and zinger see the same problems that fans and media do. The Jets cannot drive the play with any frequency and have horrible offensive zone entries. We won't dissect the power play anymore but there is a certain kind of player who can control the puck and play the half wall who is missing. Is that player Stafford?
Sabres fans can probably answer that question.
Regardless of what has recently transpired with scouts in Buffalo and some words from the GM there seems to be some smoke around the Winnipeg Jets when it comes to players. There certainly enough coming from the ears of head coach Claude Noel and a large portion of the Winnipeg fan base- perhaps management has taken notice. They should as this is now their team and they have to find a way to make what they have signed up for work. Most would say that's the coach's job and to a part it is but that's a topic for another time.
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