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Just What’s Up
Chicago comes into this one 6-2-2 in their last 10 and looking every bit the Jets equal. The Jets, on the other hand, are just 4-5-1, but have shown vast improvement since coming back from the break. Both teams have had excellent goaltending, timely scoring, and are in the running for a playoff spot. Where each has the edge is opposite. Despite an equally depleted backend the Hawks have been able to find NHL-level replacements whereas the Jets have had the better finishers.
It’s for exactly this reason and more, that I enjoy watching these two teams go at it. The Hawks, of course, have the ever-dangerous Patrick Kane and “Captain Serious… always shows his home city he’s still got it. The real interesting areas of the lineup are Chicago’s retool on the fly acquisitions. Dylan Strome, Dominik Kubalik, Alexander Nylander, Olli Maatta, and Robin Lehner. Add their more recent draft pick successes in DeBrincat, and now Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist, and there’s something brewing there.
Still, I like the Jets chances in this race. With popular statisticians agreeing that NHL players peak roughly between the ages of 24 and 26, defensemen maybe not dropping off as quickly, and perhaps goalies. The Jets will have Connor, Ehlers, Copp, Roslovic, Appleton, Morrissey, Pionk, Dahlstrom and Niku in that age bracket. Scheifele, Hellebuyck, and Lowry will be a year out of it, but still very much in their primes and Laine, will be 22 and still a fraction of what he’ll become. This analysis so far, excludes Harkins who will be 23.
The point here being, on a draft and develop-modeled team, you rely on improvement from within year after year, over free agent signings and trades. Still, word on the street is the Jets want a defender. Sami Vatanen’s name out of New Jersey has come up, but what is he going to cost?
Like most Jets fans, I’m unwilling to include a first this year. The team isn’t a serious contender even if they’re sneaking in with Vatanen. Could the Jets make this deal giving up a second and a third? My guess is they’ll want a player too. Are the Jets deep enough to be giving away roster players?
As for the Moose, they’re last in their division and third last in the league. The organization is open about its stance that its AHL team takes the developmental approach in its governance. It was pointed out well in the comments section by CharlieDog that 13 of the Moose players are drafted players, not included, Harkins whose seemed to have graduated already.
This organization has stuck to its guns and I’m curious to see of the next wave of home-grown talent will be enough to make this team a true contender. If not, what would be the piece?