With the addition of two players and the loss of (one but really two) the Jets make a start to a new era minus to core pieces of the team. Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford, acquired yesterday via trade, are the two players to fill the void left in the Jets thus the questions begin- what do the new Jets look like? Myers would seemingly be with the Jets for the longer haul as his contract does not expire for 4 more years while Stafford becomes a UFA at the conclusion of this season. What many are starting to realize is that Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets may not be finished yet.
There are question and some of which we may not have answers for currently but that should not stop discussion.
1. How does Paul Maurice structure his lines starting tonight?
Ladd Little Wheeler
Perreault Schiefele Stafford
Frolik, Lowry Galiardi (Galiardi and Frolik are usually RW)
Thorburn Slater Peluso
Putting Stafford up front could be an interesting move with 2 playmakers. At 5v5 Stafford played the most with Ennis and Hodgson as his centres while on Buffalo- Perreault and Scheifele are an upgrade.
Defense
Chairot Byfuglien
Enstrom Myers
Stuart Trouba
2. Ice time for Myers and Byfuglien
Managing minutes is always tough and Myers has been playing roughly 25 per night. The bigger challenge here is how Maurice moves his defense around with Buff now back there. Byfuglien and Myers are not the two guys you first think of for the PK and that leaves the foursome of Enstrom, Stuart, Trouba and Chairot to take those tough minutes. The reality is there is not enough ice time for all players to meet their usual quota and that's okay. Myers may have been forced to be more than he was capable of being while in Buffalo but his role on the Jets should be as a 'part' not 'the part' that makes the unit function.
3. Is Chevy done dealing?
The Jets now have one of the most impressive prospect pools and they also have two first round picks in this year's draft. Look up above at the forwards roster and ask this: 'is it deep enough?' Probably not and there is no assurance Stafford comes back. Those first round picks could be around 16th all the way to 30th and in that range are not sure fire winners. The salary cap expected to be rather stagnant and thus some teams who need help may welcome a pick in the first round, any pick. Packaging the two together could earn a significant player under contract with term, it's a matter of finding that team and player.
4. What about the future?
The Jets saved some money, actually a lot of money, which makes the above question even more intriguing. Out going were 3 years of Kane at 6 million per for 18 million and nearly 28 million for Bogosian, all in real dollars not cap hit. The return for Myers is less than his 5.5 million cap hit as he was paid a large amount in a signing bonus at start of contract, ahh the old CBA. The Jets are sitting pretty for the trade deadline and the summer.
The always astute and entertaining Rick Ralph of TSN 1290 has always said 'to make trades you need draft picks, and prospects'. In fact they run that quote as promo for his mid-day show, The Rona Roundtable. Chevy now has a stable of prospects and draft picks thus it begs the question down the stretch- will he use them?
5. Is anyone else re-evaluating Chevy's strategy?
It was clear to anyone with at least one ear that the motto for the Jets was 'draft and develop' but no one ever said 'please fans be patient'. Instead they heard the word 'process' over and over again with the expectation that it requires time. That time came yesterday or not long before it and the work put into creating depth and building assets has allowed Chevy to do what few GMs ever attempt or realize they should- moving value for the future when you are confident in your present.
This is not about letting certain players leave without return it was understanding your team, your future needs vs your assets and how you can manage all of those variables. Yesterday was a deft move that helped the cap situation, maintained personnel in key positions, filled a hole from injury and added depth for the future. Bravo Chevy, I honesty didn't know you had it in you.
No about that third line LW?