Jets Camp Opens 5 things to watch.
Today marks the first day of training camp for the Winnipeg Jets and most other NHL teams. Optimism runs high for fans and the curiosity of what head coach Paul Maurice will embark on with his strategy and tactics.
This year marks the difference that has been all the talk this off-season: a serious movement toward bringing more youth into the roster. But how does that translate to change at the ice-level?
1. Centres
The Jets have options, they have 9 centres attending training camp and Paul Maurice said he was going to look at different options and today he rolled out a Ladd, Lowry, Little line to open session 1 of camp. Maybe it’s a joke to play on the broadcasters but it’s an interesting option and one might wonder why? The fact is aside from Little, Lowry, Schiefele who played last season, Copp, De Leo, Albert, Gennaro, and Cormier are there to challenge. But it’s only a challenge to the 4th line. It’s more about who he matches centres with and what combinations than the centres themselves and in time we may learn the reasoning behind this move.
2. Defense
As outlined before the Jets have more than enough depth defence to deal with the inevitable injuries that come in the year but do they have actual spots? As you have read in this space before the belief is that they will likely have to make a move to downsize the core via trade or taking a waiver risk. Aside from the names that all logged significant time last season the Jets have: Morrissey, Kostalek, Kitchon, Nosier, Melchiori, Serville, Stoykewych, Harstard, and MacWilliam. Judging by the prospects tournament only one or two D should be considered and that may or may not include Morrissey.
In this case Maurice and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff need to know who is close to ready, who can challenge and who might be expendable when the final roster needs to be set. My guess would be that Paul Postma, with a 2-year deal starting this season, will be the subject of trade speculation almost immediately.
3. Youth
It goes without saying that watching the youth arrive and take turns in the two training camp lineups is going to be the highlight and theme of this camp. As mentioned above in regards to defence the same opportunity lies with forwards but the difference being there are spots ‘open’. Can any of Ehlers, Armia, Lemieux, Petan, Kosmachuk, Lodge or Blomqvist make an impression? If they do what kind of impression is needed to make the team and start the season with the Jets in Boston? Consider the way Maurice has added Lowry to the top line and following with Raffle Petan Thorburn. He’s creating scenarios where the youth may slot in on an interim basis and he wants to see what they do in those types of spots.
While Ehlers may get a chance to play in a more defined spot, will others like Petan and Kosmachuk? It’s going to be on them to prove they belong not about a particular spot being open and that’s what fans should be watching for from Maurice; how he moves the youth as cuts come.
The other factor is Armia and Lemieux, two important parts in the Kane and Bogosian deal from last February. Do the begin to show an upside and help offset the loss many feel happened with the departure of Kane?
4. Goaltending
The Jets have a surprising amount of goaltenders in camp considering the depth in that position. Aside from Pavelec, Hutchinson, Hellebyuck and Comrie there is Leggio (PTO) and Okinuora too. Is anyone going to usurp the starting position from Pavelec? It’s unlikely until a goalie gets the chance either via injury or opportunity to take the reigns as Hutchinson did last year. That goalie could be one of the three of Hutch, Comrie or Hellebyuck, but does it happen this season?
The more likely story is who challenges for back-up behind Pavelec with the incumbent being Hutch. Expectations are that Hellebyuck is the closer goalie to that challenge but how close? Hutch would have to clear waivers to play in the NHL and that is unlikely so what happens? If Hellebyuck and Hutch are equal it is certain that the former goes down to start the season but only if a trade cannot be made. Like the defence it seems that there is a bit too many goalies to manage and it’s another area to expect trade speculation to occur.
5. Veterans
With all of the vets returning except Frolik who left for greener pastures in Calgary, do the Jets have the right mix of experience and youth? The balance will always be in favour of the veterans and for the first time in 5 seasons the Jets enter camp without the most enigmatic player in the short franchise history, Evander Kane. That being said the return of Alexander Burmistrov might cause some attention although he has been here most of the summer.
How does Burmistrov fit with the Jets that have undergone some major changes since he finished with the team in 2013? What does Stafford bring as he starts the season with the Jets? How do Ladd and Buff deal with their contract status, both of whom enter their final years with out any extension yet. Does the loss of Frolik and Slater have an immediate impact as the team chemistry and make-up changes?
While not an old team based on the age of vets it’s still a team weighted to that side which means they will be relied upon as much as in the past. Is anyone set to falter a bit or can Jets fans assume the usual production and numbers from them?
There are questions that abound every training camp with every team, but as the Jets enter their 5th season since moving from Atlanta they embark on the first real step within their ‘draft and development’ model. That is the influx of developed, or developing draftees to the line up. How big an influx is yet to be seen but if Copp and Ehlers join Trouba, Scheifele, and Lowry it would be a nice statement to have a player playing for the number of drafts this management and ownership group have been in control. A bigger statement would be that the team hasn’t fallen to far down since deciding to jettison some vets and move towards youth but for that to be determined regular season games have to be played. We’re a ways off form that with much to discuss before that judgment can be made.