Here is your protected list for the Winnipeg Jets
Armia Copp Little Lowry Perreault Scheifele Wheeler Byfuglien Myers Trouba Hellebuyck
It's been nice knowing you Marko Dano and good luck in Las Vegas.
Now if you look at the rest of the rosters is there a deal to be made for the Jets with Vegas?
The Jets have needs certainly some 4th line depth if either of Connor or Rsolovic are not quite ready but also on defence. It would be hard to believe that they would do anything with Enstrom after the huge favour he did by waiving his NTC. However the left side remains Morrissey, Enstrom, Stuart, and Poolman and the last being a big question mark.
Adding any depth on the left side would be beneficial and if Mark Stuart had to go to the Moose in the final year of his deal would it be a big expenditure? The Jets did start Pavelec there last year at twice the cost as Stuart.
The obvious choice seems to be a player between the pipes to give a bit more time to Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck to grow into his game. Here is who is available that may, or may not make sense.
Anaheim
Bernier, Hacket, Tokarski and Enroth
Boston
Khudobin, Subban
Calgary
Elliot
Carolina
Lack, Leighton, Ward
Colorado
Pickard
Dallas
Lehtonen Niemi
Detroit
Pasquale, Mrazek
Florida
Luongo
Minnesota
Kuemper, Stalock
NY Islanders
Halak
NY Rangers
Raanta
Ottawa
Condon
Philadelphia
Neuvirth, Mason
Washington
Grubauer
Of those goalies who makes the most sense?
#1 Grubauer- An RFA and in any season appearing for Caps has not been below .918
#2 Raanta- After a rough year in Chicago (13-14) has played solid in backup role not going below .919 in 59 games
#3 Pickard- one year at 1million and then an RFA has had success before this past season on awful Avs
#3 Halak- would have to work on salary but has not posted less than .916 on average in last 3 years
#4 Elliot - as a UFA not deal needed but hard to know what you are getting, has been solid on strong Blues teams so would he push for #1 and what kind of term?
#5 Khudobin- hard to know what he is anymore but if it's one year perhaps 1.2 is not too much to swallow
Now none of this is a sure thing if Chevy picks up the phone. The LVGK will make him pay and he has to be sure that the price is right vs free with a UFA such as Elliot if he is willing to give Winnipeg a chance. The point here is there are options and the should be explored.
Dano is gone and the Jets should be able to weather that loss with their forward depth coming up from the drafts they have had but this expansion draft presents a unique opportunity for the Jets. They need to make the most of it and if that means dangling the #1 pick not just for a goalie but any player it has to be something they at least consider.
What we do know is that Chevy will not overpay. He will not be throwing that pick or other assets to land something with less than average upside. The Jets are a somewhat risk adverse team and when looking at deals this trait should not be forgotten.
How would you target this expansion draft? Would you work it hard to get the goalie you need or does adding depth on defence seem like a better move? What's more likely to be a successful pursuit?