First and foremost congrats to Matt Hendricks on his deal with the Jets. It's not his fault he is paid to be a Jet nor is it his fault for what the Jets see in him-- leadership apparently. In fact there might be such a shortage of leadership on the Jets that the team is re-evaluatiing it's roster?
Hendricks is long past his usefulness, both for the Jets and perhaps in the NHL. For a team many expect to rise and take a big step forward the signing of Hendricks seems like one large leap backwards. Certainly from a quick read from the Oilers universe the media and fans are not sad to see him go and that's what makes this signing such an odd move.
Many fans celebrated when Chris Thorburn was taken in the expansion draft by Vegas. He was part of a deal to keep Toby Enstrom in Winnipeg. Hendricks is an older, slower and lesser version of Thorburn. He's a player who did not see the ice in Edmonton's two playoff rounds last spring. That is saying something because it's not like he will bring valuable experience to a team that has made the post season once and failed to win a game.
Hendricks had a long road to the NHL making his first appearance 8 years after his draft year, most players are weeded out of the NHL opportunity pipeline by then. That should give some level of measure to his trait of perseverance and that might be what the Jets see in him, as it's certainly not his production.
The timing becomes even more curious as teams inch towards training camp- the Jets have had all summer to figure out what they need and this is the answer? Perhaps it's a low cost guess, a hope that for a salary not much above league minimum Hendricks can fill a void left by Thorburn and add leadership to a team that lacked it? Maybe on the Moose, the Jets farm team, but those traits are not needed within the Jets.
While the concern is about Hendricks, targeting him seems misguided as it's the decision process that created this situation which deserves criticism. How do the Jets view role players? Where do they see Hendricks fitting in based on the moves and departures of like-styled players already?
That's the part that again raises the concern about the Jets front office. Just when they start appearing to be smart they hold onto outdated ideas, the same ones that prevented them from truly embracing change. I'm happy for Hendricks because who wouldn't want another chance to keep an NHL career going but it comes at a cost and not just salary. He's a role player long past his prime and if there's a spot for that on any NHL team then there's lots more to be questioned.
Matt Hendricks NHL stats:
GP 521 G 49 A 51 PIM 664