While the Winnipeg Jets have been off to a pretty good start to the season, they take on the 1-8-2 Chigago Blackhawks in Winnipeg on Friday, and will look to come out of the gates flying, in their first game against a (currently) bottom-5 team.
New to father-hood, Connor Hellebuyck will not be dressed for the game, as Paul Maurice stated Connor wasnt feeling well Thursday morning and was held off the ice for practice. Eric Comrie gets the start again after a 27-save shootout victory over the Dallas Stars earlier in the week. Comrie has looked, well, like a backup goaltender in his two starts this season. In his two appearances, the game against Dallas, and a game against the Los Angeles Kings in which he earned a 30-save win. Comrie has certainly put faith into some Jets fans hearts, as Connor Hellebuyck has usually played better with a backup that can be trusted.
A lot of talk in the blogs comments have been about potential trades. Though many say they feel content with the lineup, and with the roster, and cap space (or lack-there-of), and the Jets can pretty well stand pact, some would like to see some moves.
I don't think the Jets are very eager to be making any moves. They are winning games and for the most part, without two top-line players to start part of the season. The roster they have has a lot of depth, and star-power. I don't believe the Jets should be working the phones at this point in the season, but, it is always fun to talk about what kinds of possibilities we can look it.
Andrew Copp has been pretty good to start the season, and with the Jets capped-strapped, do they try and work out an extension? Do they ship him at the deadline if they aren't contending? Do they let him walk after making a playoff-run?
It makes total sense for the team to try and reach an agreement with the pending UFA after this season. Copp makes $3.64M and would likely want to be signing a check with the same value, if not, asking for a bit of a raise. Paul Maurice really likes playing Copp, and this season is showing that it isn't for nothing. After a breakout season last year, putting up 15G and 39P in 55GP, and starting this season hot, with 5G, 9P in 9GP. I don't imagine Copp keeps up a point-per-game pace, but if he can register a total around that 58 point pace over 82 games he had last season, he may be looking for closer to the $5M mark.
With Dubois looking for a raise after this seasosn, who is only making $5M himself, and other pending free agents like Stasny, and depth options, the Jets may be forced to make some decisions. If it comes time that we are at the trade deadline, and the team is looking at the playoffs, I think it makes most sense to keep Copp, and try and find more playoff success. What would a return look like for an expiring Copp? Well frankly, I am sure that there is an option everywhere for a player like Copp. You could try and make a deal to pull young defenseman Erik Brannstrom, or a vetern blue-liner like Josh Manson, who could be an upgrade to a defensman should the team see necessary. Another option is if Eric Comrie can't be a stable backup to Connor Hellebuyck, maybe a team like Dallas is trading half of their tandem in either Braden Holtby or Anton Khudobin.
Another asset talked about frequently is a defenseman already battling his way into this line-up, and that is Ville Heinola. Between last season and the start of this year, Heinola has 24 games played in the AHL with Manitoba, registering an impressive 14 points. It is harder to imagine a trade involving Ville as he is so young with so much potential. On the other hand, Paul Maurice isn't well-known for playing his young guys, especially on the blue-line. With Logan Stanley (23) being the only defensman under the age of 26 on the current roster.
We saw with Neal Pionk that he can trust the younger defenseman with bigger roles, as Pionk came into his 23 year old season (already with a third of a season of experience with NYR) and got rewarded for his good play. Back to Heinola, will he be "overcooked" in three years? Probably. Will that stunt his development? I'm not as sure. We see defensemen spend much longer than many forwards to grow, and if the organization can get the development right with Heinola, or Paul Maurice can find a spot for him in the lineup, great. Having Heinola takes away any likely-hood of a Copp for Brannstrom trade, but that was just for an example of a kind of return to expect. With Heinola not making a dent on the salary cap, it would be near impossible to use him to pick up a rental.
All in all, the Jets certainly have the right pieces in the right scenarios to make trades. The cap will be a tough thing to maneuver, but depending on where this team is at in the standings come the trade deadline, they will be able to make the moves they feel they need to.
Let me know your thoughts on the current trade market. How do you feel about the return Buffalo got for Jack Eichel? What Jets players could you see moved by the end of the year? What kinds of pieces would you like to acquire? Let me know in the comment section below, hope you all have a great day!
By Jacob Billington Follow @JacobBillingt10