Phillips is 3-4 years older than Comrie so I’m giving Comrie the edge based on age but I have no clue if either will be a successful NHL goalie. I do like Berdin and am excited to see him here. Phillips is also older tha Helle. I just think his window is closing fast.
- Ross77

Phillips is born in 93, the same year as Hellebuyck and Comrie is born in 95. Are you and I assessing the same goalies? And, Phillips is actually 5 days younger than Hellebuyck.

Phillips is born in 93, the same year as Hellebuyck and Comrie is born in 95. Are you and I assessing the same goalies? And, Phillips is actually 5 days younger than Hellebuyck.
- TheUltimateJet

I didn’t look it up, was going off memory. So he is two years older than Comrie, not 3-4, my bad. My reason for favouring Comrie remains. I was wrong, I thought he was also older than Helle. But either way a 25 year old goalie still playing in the east coast league is running out of time. But I wish him the best!!!

Not really, especially if are able to rid yourself of Perreault and Little. Imagine Tavares feeding Ehlers and Laine pucks.
- TheUltimateJet

I'm pretty positive Perreault will be traded ion the off-season. My best guess would be Montreal, a place he would be a perfect fit. His contract is somewhat cap-friendly and a lot of teams would want him. He just doesn't seem to fit quite right anymore with the Jets and their top three lines. He'd be overpaid on the third and fourth lines. Little is not going anywhere and Statsny on a short-term two-year contract is a good fit on the Jets second line. We cannot afford Statsny on any longer term than that.

Myers is a mainstay on our blue line. He has size , played every game, and was terrific in the playoffs. I'd be happy signing him for the same money on an extra two-year extension. I think he'd like to stay.

Trouba appears to want to sign. Kurt Overcharge is probably wincing at his comments because it hurts his asking price with Winnipeg. I say Trouba gets $6.5 MM for 5 years. The interesting thing is that I thought Morrissey actually had a better season than Trouba although made some definite mistakes in the playoffs that cost the Jets big time. If he wasn't an RFA he would be getting similar money. However, his RFA status gives him less negotiating room so he may be more like $4.5 MM for a few more years.

Helle gets at least 5MM per but depends on the term. It's never wise to sign a goalie for too long a term because it can be a franchise killer. Just look at Price's latest contract. I think Helle only gets better with another year at the same camp he attended the last off-season. I guess we could look at Fleury, Rinne, Vasilevsiy, and Quick as comparables. Seems $5-6 MM might be the correct range for the next 4 years.

I'd give Tanev a $2.0 MM bridge contract. He perfectly fits the new Vegas model of speed and can also score.

Then there are the remaining elephants in the room. Laine, Connor, and Wheeler. Laine and Connor are both in the same boat with 2 years remaining till being an RFA. In theory, none of them need to get signed this off-season. Wheeler might just be willing to hold off and sacrifice to mid-season next year in order to keep the cap down so the Jets can afford to keep a guy like Statsny.

If I were GM I also might want to see how seriously Laine takes his off-season. Does he go back to Finland and do the same routine that involves little skating or does he go all out and do the Shief thing with Roberts which involves some serious power -skating. Laine as we all have observed can shoot, score, and is a very good passer. His weakness is skating and losing the puck along the wall. Matthews vs Laine....right now I would lean towards Matthews for his all-around game. It's up to Laine to fix his weaknesses. Right now I'm not sure he is worth more than $7.5 MM per. Connor will continue to get better but still young as well and might be extended at $4.5 MM per.

Finally , As I said previously, we should attempt to get one of Riley Nash, Matt Calvert, Pacioretty (for Perreault) or Perron.

In the end there is a balance to be had as a GM. You can ask some of these upcoming free agents at the end of 18-19 season to wait until mid next year and save some cap space but agree in principle to some numbers now. The key RFA's are better to get signed before the start of next season because those signings don't affect salary cap until their RFA status ends. Like the Scheif contract , its better to beat salary inflation and player upside and get them signed to some numbers as early as possible.

Myers stays and walks as a free agent next summer. It would be fool hardy to trade a defenseman that can make a difference during the season and playoffs. Essentially, Myers becomes our free agent rental at next years deadline which beats trading prospects and picks for.

I really liked him when he was paired with Byfuglien.
- TheUltimateJet

A rental is usually supposed to be better than the guy who’s spot he’s taking. I’ll take the Poolboi and the cap space, thanks.

Not really, especially if are able to rid yourself of Perreault and Little. Imagine Tavares feeding Ehlers and Laine pucks.
- TheUltimateJet

I take issue with all of this. Tavares is going to be a dangerous signing, and I don’t think he’d come here. We also wouldn’t win with his inflated cap hit hanging over our heads. I’ll take Scheifele at 6.125 over Tavares at 11.

Perreault is not a player you’d “rid yourself of”, so much as a piece youll be forced to part ways with. He’s still massively underpaid.

Little is also on an NMC, and unmovable by the time it ends.

Wheeler has never been easy to sign a contract, this is going back to his hold out with the Coyotes and dont kid your self, the Jets tried very hard to pay him less on his current deal and were not happy with how that went down! Signing Wheeler will not be easy and he will ask for more than we should give him. Remember we are not paying him for what he's done!!! We already did that, the next deal is for whats to come!! You think Wheeler will take less than what Kane just got? lol!! not a chance!!

hate to say it but not sure giving him more than 3-4 years is worth it to us!!!! and I think he will want 6 years x 7.5 and that scares the hell out of me!!!!!!!!!

crossing my fingers it somehow gets done around 3-4 years for 6 mill but I highly doubt it.

I do enjoy how the fans on here have such differing values of our players.

Wheeler has never been easy to sign a contract, this is going back to his hold out with the Coyotes and dont kid your self, the Jets tried very hard to pay him less on his current deal and were not happy with how that went down! Signing Wheeler will not be easy and he will ask for more than we should give him. Remember we are not paying him for what he's done!!! We already did that, the next deal is for whats to come!! You think Wheeler will take less than what Kane just got? lol!! not a chance!!

hate to say it but not sure giving him more than 3-4 years is worth it to us!!!! and I think he will want 6 years x 7.5 and that scares the hell out of me!!!!!!!!!

crossing my fingers it somehow gets done around 3-4 years for 6 mill but I highly doubt it.
- Ross77

Why are you so mad about Wheeler right now? The guy isn’t the same Wheeler from Arizona anymore, and he was severely underpaid on the deal he has now. It was basically market value when he signed, but it’s been a bargain ever since.

I don’t think he’ll care what Kane got. He wants to win, he’s the leader here, and he’ll take less to stay (probably). I offer 3 years, 21 million, and be on my merry way.

As a final word from me (for about 2 hours before I’m triggered again) on Toby, here’s how he ranks among the league’s defencemen (minimum 400 minutes played):

Corsi against/60 - 4th
Fenwick against/60 - 5th
Shots against/60 - 4th
Goals against/60 - 12th
Scoring chances against/60 - 1st
High danger scoring chances against/60 - 1st

Now, I’m no rocket surgeon, but this probably means he’s good at defence. His numbers actually trended up enough over the course of the season that an argument can be made for him actually being the best defensive dman in the NHL this season.

Why are you so mad about Wheeler right now? The guy isn’t the same Wheeler from Arizona anymore, and he was severely underpaid on the deal he has now. It was basically market value when he signed, but it’s been a bargain ever since.

I don’t think he’ll care what Kane got. He wants to win, he’s the leader here, and he’ll take less to stay (probably). I offer 3 years, 21 million, and be on my merry way.
- Rexypoo

I really hope you are right and I’ll be happy to admit I was wrong but we shall see. And I’m not mad, just preparing fans that signing wheeler won’t be easy and giving him too much for too long would not be good .

By the way, did you ever come on here and say I was right all along about postma? Like you promised? Lol, that should get you triggered

As a final word from me (for about 2 hours before I’m triggered again) on Toby, here’s how he ranks among the league’s defencemen (minimum 400 minutes played):

Corsi against/60 - 4th
Fenwick against/60 - 5th
Shots against/60 - 4th
Goals against/60 - 12th
Scoring chances against/60 - 1st
High danger scoring chances against/60 - 1st

Now, I’m no rocket surgeon, but this probably means he’s good at defence. His numbers actually trended up enough over the course of the season that an argument can be made for him actually being the best defensive dman in the NHL this season.
- Rexypoo

It means that he is a good regular season player. He was atrocious in the playoffs.

I really hope you are right and I’ll be happy to admit I was wrong but we shall see. And I’m not mad, just preparing fans that signing wheeler won’t be easy and giving him too much for too long would not be good .

By the way, did you ever come on here and say I was right all along about postma? Like you promised? Lol, that should get you triggered
- Ross77

I gotta give you the nod on Postma. I can make the argument that Boston has a crowded blueline, and that the sample size this year was too smal to be useful, but he’s also managed to not gain trust in Boston. So who knows. Ross wins by default.

It means that he is a good regular season player. He was atrocious in the playoffs.
- TheUltimateJet

He was decent. Obviously not on his normal level considering he had multiple goddamn ribs broken.

I'm pretty positive Perreault will be traded ion the off-season. My best guess would be Montreal, a place he would be a perfect fit. His contract is somewhat cap-friendly and a lot of teams would want him. He just doesn't seem to fit quite right anymore with the Jets and their top three lines. He'd be overpaid on the third and fourth lines. as much as he has been great for the Jets and no one would mind having him around it is tough to fit the contract on 4th line. Durability is becoming a question too. It may be his time to move on.

Statsny on a short-term two-year contract is a good fit on the Jets second line. We cannot afford Statsny on any longer term than that. If I were 32 and playing strong hockey with solid reputation I am looking for as much term as a team will give. He won't sign anywhere for less that 4 years, and someone will offer 5-6 years. Thanks for the good service Mr. Stasny.

Myers is a mainstay on our blue line. He has size , played every game, and was terrific in the playoffs. I'd be happy signing him for the same money on an extra two-year extension. I think he'd like to stay.same as Stasny, he will want more term and I think Chevy will give it to him to keep cap down. Look for a contract that takes him to 35-36years old

Trouba appears to want to sign. Kurt Overcharge is probably wincing at his comments because it hurts his asking price with Winnipeg. I say Trouba gets $6.5 MM for 5 years. The interesting thing is that I thought Morrissey actually had a better season than Trouba although made some definite mistakes in the playoffs that cost the Jets big time. If he wasn't an RFA he would be getting similar money. However, his RFA status gives him less negotiating room so he may be more like $4.5 MM for a few more years. Aside from Trouba wanting to stay the other leverage Jets have is the ability to sign him for 8 years. I think he gets 8 years around 6m/year

Helle gets at least 5MM per but depends on the term. It's never wise to sign a goalie for too long a term because it can be a franchise killer. Just look at Price's latest contract. I think Helle only gets better with another year at the same camp he attended the last off-season. I guess we could look at Fleury, Rinne, Vasilevsiy, and Quick as comparables. Seems $5-6 MM might be the correct range for the next 4 years.I don't think the length of Price's contract is as much a franchise killer as the 10.5m cap hit for the contract (Price will regain his form). I think we need to lock up Helle - I like his work ethic and character. His style lends itself to a longer, more injury free career (Olaf Kolzig/Tom Barasso/Marty Brodeur).

If I were GM I also might want to see how seriously Laine takes his off-season. Does he go back to Finland and do the same routine that involves little skating or does he go all out and do the Shief thing with Roberts which involves some serious power -skating. Laine as we all have observed can shoot, score, and is a very good passer. His weakness is skating and losing the puck along the wall. If we don't sign him to bucks and term someone else will. He is still learning that if he wants to be number 1 instead of number 2 (draft/hart/conference) that his professional commitment to improvement needs to change.

Finally , As I said previously, we should attempt to get one of Riley Nash, Matt Calvert, Pacioretty (for Perreault) or Perron.all good players but I don't think they change the Jets situation much from Perreault - if that's the return then keep Perreault

In the end there is a balance to be had as a GM. You can ask some of these upcoming free agents at the end of 18-19 season to wait until mid next year and save some cap space but agree in principle to some numbers now. The key RFA's are better to get signed before the start of next season because those signings don't affect salary cap until their RFA status ends. Like the Scheif contract , its better to beat salary inflation and player upside and get them signed to some numbers as early as possible. us fans might spend hours or dozens of hours trying to get our heads around this (our best strength is likely our collective insights when we have our thinking brains on rather than fan brain). Chevy has been thinking about the big picture of draft and develop and making it fit with cap since Chicago. He likely has staffers working out scenarios, advice from fellow GM's/past GM's, and is himself part of a group writing the book on draft/develop. His time input will total in the 10,000+ hour range over the past decade or so. We will have to trust, based on his past record, that he is making right decisions (there may be other right decisions). We can evaluate and either deify him or skewer him when the final results are in after the next few seasons.
- jetsnation

Wheeler has never been easy to sign a contract, this is going back to his hold out with the Coyotes and dont kid your self, the Jets tried very hard to pay him less on his current deal and were not happy with how that went down! Signing Wheeler will not be easy and he will ask for more than we should give him. Remember we are not paying him for what he's done!!! We already did that, the next deal is for whats to come!! You think Wheeler will take less than what Kane just got? lol!! not a chance!!

hate to say it but not sure giving him more than 3-4 years is worth it to us!!!! and I think he will want 6 years x 7.5 and that scares the hell out of me!!!!!!!!!

crossing my fingers it somehow gets done around 3-4 years for 6 mill but I highly doubt it.
- Ross77

I'm OK at 6x7.5