The Bobfather spoke, rather he tweeted, the following:
Expect Nikolaj Ehlers and Nic Petan to be on WPG's 23-man roster. Jets trying to move surplus D (Pardy or Harrison) before waivers.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 5, 2015And when the Bobfather tweets people take notice.
The premise here is that the Jets don't want to lose anyone for free as they know the value of depth D and want a return, likely a late round pick. But here is where things get tricky, the Jets have to have (a) Grant Clitsome on the active roster to then put him on long-term IR before getting cap relief or (b) declare him on IR on the last day of training camp. You can read more about How LTIR works at the start of the season here
Sadly for Clitsome he is probably finished in his career as a hockey player due to some very unfortunate back injuries that never seem to recover. He should retire but he has a year remaining on his deal and this is money he needs as he was never a star player.
The ramification are the Jets have to find a way to move or keep Postma, Pardy and Harrison as the top 6 are set with Enstrom, Byfuglien, Myers, Trouba, Stuart and Chiarot. To complicate matters even more the Jets have to make some tough decisions around Michael Raffl and Anthony Peluso as it appears the two Nicks, Petan and Ehlers are set to make the team. If Thorburn rides out 4th line duties and the Jets want to carry two defence in reserve than that means some one goes down.
The question that has to be answered first is Michael Raffl going to be a Jet? If they can agree on a contract then this get messy for the others. There is also another variable in this too...JC Lipon. He's a player the Jets have never had, a true pest and agitator and perhaps the beginning of a trend with Brendan Lemieux coming up eventually. So where do Maurice and Cheveldayoff draw the line?
Pardy Harrison Postma Raffl Peluso Lipon-sent to Moose today
Three have to go. Raffl would need signifcant assurances to not return to his $300,000 a year contract in Europe so any deal with him, or not, sets the stage for the rest of the moves.
Harrison is a FA at season's end but he is also having part of his contract paid for by Carolina, perhaps he is more appealing but he could also be a great mentor down the hall on the Moose.
Pardy is liked and trusted by Maurice and does his job when asked.
Postma is the most curious as two seasons ago Elliote Friedman suggested he would be sought after if the Jets had reason to move him. I still think he would be so he will not pass waivers but he's great depth
Peluso is a repetition of Thorburn and from the department of redundancy department- simply put what does he do that Lipon and Thorburn do not?
Finally Lipon, who can be waived without problem for this year only. He likely seems like the odd guy out but if you had to ice a 4ht line to grind the opposition Lipon, Copp Thorburn is rather appealing if you get a good night for Thorburn. subsequently has been waived to the Moose as of this morning
Something has to give for the Cheveldayoff and the Jets before Wednesday's roster deadline- it could be interesting who it plays out. I if I had to gamble Chevy tries to sneak Harrison down, sends Lipon down and then keeps Postma Pardy and Peluso and Raffl goes back to Europe.