Peter Tessier: Is the Jets line-up already set? Training camp opens today with physicals but some fans wonder if a roster floated by the NHL network is going to come true?

Peter Tessier: Is the Jets line-up already set?
Training camp opens today with physicals but some fans wonder if a roster floated by the NHL network is going to come true?
- Peter.Tessier

Buff, Wheeler, Little all resigning. Certainly putting an end to the myth that players don't want to play here.

Good to see.

I don't think paying 5m per year for a 3rd line center in 3 or 4 years is too terrible as long as the cap goes up a bit. If you guys have a couple decent guys ahead of him, that would be some good center depth which is never a bad thing.

Nothing like paying top dollar to guy who is in the decline of his career. Bad contract.

Nothing like paying top dollar to guy who is in the decline of his career. Bad contract.
- Leniwm1

He's a year younger than Kopitar.

I think Connor should be on the 2nd line insteaf of Perreault.

A Connor-Little-Wheeler line would be a GREAT second line while and putting Connor with 2 solid veterans will only help him in his development going forward while Perreault can help steady the 3rd line.

I think Connor should be on the 2nd line insteaf of Perreault.

A Connor-Little-Wheeler line would be a GREAT second line while and putting Connor with 2 solid veterans will only help him in his development going forward while Perreault can help steady the 3rd line.
- Scabeh

I think it will be very fluid to start. Not sure Maurice is going to give him top 6 minutes to start.
I'm also think Little and Wheeler will be split up with one of each taking Ehlers or Laine.
My guess.
Ehlers Scheifele Wheeler
Connor/Perrault Little Laine.

Buff, Wheeler, Little all resigning. Certainly putting an end to the myth that players don't want to play here.

Good to see.
- stormey

easy when you overpay

I also agree to put Connor on the second line and Perreault on the third. As much as I like Perreault he can be a very effective third line defensive player with offensive upside. Thats more than can be said for Lowry. Connor needs experienced guys like Little and Wheeler to back him up until his defensive game is more solid.

I also noticed that with Copp's one way contract he either starts on the Moose but gets paid the big bucks or starts on the Jets and can't be sent down without passing through waivers. I am not a Copp fan but he seems destined for being on the roster or in the press box. I think Matthais also makes the roster so that does leave Dano as the odd man out. Don't have a problem with that either. I never saw much upside in Dano anyways. He will be a journeyman all his career or fill in guy for injuries. His days are numbered on the Jets once Vesalainen and Roslovic show up in a year or so.

As for Petan. He is a very talented player who hopefully took this off-season very seriously and trained hard. He has the potential to be the hidden gem on the Jets team. It would be interesting to see him center with Perreault on the wing and see what happens. Training camp is make or break time for Petan.

My predicted starting forward lineup (barring injuries)

Ehlers- Sheifele- Laine
Connor-Little-Wheeler
Perreault- Petan- Armia
Matthais- Lowry- Copp
Press box - Hendricks

I should add that while there was criticism of the Sgarbossa and Henricks signings the one thing Chevy has done well is add needed depth. After last years injury plagued season having that depth is very important when a couple of players go down. We now have more reliable call-ups that have less chance of giving up those critical game deciding goals through bad mistakes. Dano, Sgarbossa, Hendricks can be those guys while Roslovic and Vesalainen get ready for the big leagues.

Little....4-5 years would have been perfect but would have cost maybe $500-750K more per year so its like getting the 6th year for free anyways at the reduced rate. In the end its not so bad.

He's a year younger than Kopitar.
- stormey

Wrong. And the Kopitar deal is bad as well...

Wrong. And the Kopitar deal is bad as well...
- Feds91Stammer

Well Kopitar is 30 and Little is 29...so ...

Well Kopitar is 30 and Little is 29...so ...
- stormey

By 3 (frank)ing months...

easy when you overpay
- Symba007

Whats you're injury riddled 31 yr old goalie making the next 8 years???? Those knees won't last another 2 years and your scoring is bottom 5 in the league. All you've got thats any good is druin

By 3 (frank)ing months...
- Feds91Stammer

Well I was looking at years and draft years.
But end of the day he's younger than Kopitar, making half the salary and had a better ppg than him last year.

It's 2 years to long. But he'll likely still be productive at 32 or 33. Scheifele and Little down the middle at around 12 Mill a season is pretty good.

Wrong. And the Kopitar deal is bad as well...
- Feds91Stammer

Haha yes Hendricks in the pressbox please!!! He's probably a great locker room guy but lets get some of the young talent a chance to play. And am I wrong when I say that I was most impressed with Lowry and Armia the final 20 games of the stretch last season?

I think it will be very fluid to start. Not sure Maurice is going to give him top 6 minutes to start.
I'm also think Little and Wheeler will be split up with one of each taking Ehlers or Laine.
My guess.
Ehlers Scheifele Wheeler
Connor/Perrault Little Laine.
- stormey

I'm only curious why chevy would sign a veteran player, who likely will be a 2/3 center on the team to a long term contract so premature. He's plagued with injuries. I would have like to see how this season played out prior to the extension. Hasn't played over 58 games in either of the past two seasons. Plus this kulikov signing still has me rattled.

Connor - Petan - Armia will get caved in, can't see that as an actual line. This is more of a EA NHL 18 line.

Unless Petan has an amazing camp, he should start the season as 1st or 2nd line C with the Moose. Let him show that he can actually produce in the AHL before giving him more PP time and the 3C with the Jets. He has done nothing in pro hockey to deserve this yet.

I get it, he was good in the WHL, but so were a lot of players who never amounted to anything in the NHL.

I'm only curious why chevy would sign a veteran player, who likely will be a 2/3 center on the team to a long term contract so premature. He's plagued with injuries. I would have like to see how this season played out prior to the extension. Hasn't played over 58 games in either of the past two seasons. Plus this kulikov signing still has me rattled.
- bikeguy99

Outside of the cracked vertebrate at the end of the 2015-16 season and then the first 25 games last season he's been relatively healthy I think.

A market like Winnipeg has to lock guys like this up before they hit UFA, can't take a chance.

Connor - Petan - Armia will get caved in, can't see that as an actual line. This is more of a EA NHL 18 line.

Unless Petan has an amazing camp, he should start the season as 1st or 2nd line C with the Moose. Let him show that he can actually produce in the AHL before giving him more PP time and the 3C with the Jets. He has done nothing in pro hockey to deserve this yet.

I get it, he was good in the WHL, but so were a lot of players who never amounted to anything in the NHL.
- mcjags

Mcjags. I agree 100% on that third line not cutting it. I do think my revised line-up would work though. This is a make or break year for Petan. Jack Roslovic and even Jansen Harkins amongst others are waiting in the wings for his spot. Hopefully the pressure of compeition for his spot raises his game that extra notch or two.

Totally agree with jetsnation's lineup. To me Connor needs the chance to be in the top 6 and pairing him with Little and Wheeler should help him out. I would consider flipping Armia and Copp around but that's only because of how well Armia played with Matthias and Lowry.

Mcjags. I agree 100% on that third line not cutting it. I do think my revised line-up would work though. This is a make or break year for Petan. Jack Roslovic and even Jansen Harkins amongst others are waiting in the wings for his spot. Hopefully the pressure of compeition for his spot raises his game that extra notch or two.
- jetsnation

I like your top 2 lines, but like I said, I need to see something from Petan before marking him as a 3C. He hasn't really stood out for the Moose when he's been there...I think expectations are too high.

Roslovic, Harkins, Spacek, Appleton...lots of your guys who could surpass him.

stormey 1
Feds91Stammer 0

I like your top 2 lines, but like I said, I need to see something from Petan before marking him as a 3C. He hasn't really stood out for the Moose when he's been there...I think expectations are too high.

Roslovic, Harkins, Spacek, Appleton...lots of your guys who could surpass him.
- mcjags

I actually forgot about Spacek. Great talent but probably needs some time to learn Jets system on the Moose first. My logic for putting Petan on the third line is that I predict that he will have taken the off-season seriously and will show well in camp. If he doesn't then he is done with the Jets. He is an RFA next year so its now or bust. He would blend well with the heavy possession time that Armia and Perreault will achieve. Petan is also great at slowing the game down The main task of the third line is mostly to keep the other teams top line in check and away from the puck but at the same time have that ability to score. I think this line can achieve that feat with its puck possession skills.

Outside of the cracked vertebrate at the end of the 2015-16 season and then the first 25 games last season he's been relatively healthy I think.

A market like Winnipeg has to lock guys like this up before they hit UFA, can't take a chance.
- mcjags

Ya its true Winnipeg needs to lock up their players, tho I'm not sure if its as urgent as everyone believes. Who have they lost lately to free agency??? I don't think a player like Little would be getting offers that high, and certainly not with such term from other teams, but that's just my opinion. Not arguing Little's consistent offense which has been great considering his two-way game, just factoring in his age and health that has me questioning the contract.

Ya its true Winnipeg needs to lock up their players, tho I'm not sure if its as urgent as everyone believes. Who have they lost lately to free agency??? I don't think a player like Little would be getting offers that high, and certainly not with such term from other teams, but that's just my opinion. Not arguing Little's consistent offense which has been great considering his two-way game, just factoring in his age and health that has me questioning the contract.
- bikeguy99

I feel they should consider offering a trade with the Devils. The only area they have depth is Centre: Zajac (injured), Henrique, Zacha, Hischier, Boyle, and Quennville all fighting for time in the middle. I think a player like Henrique could be an asset with some of the younger talent Winnipeg has coming up. And looking at the huge lack in depth at D for the Devils I feel we could make a trade.