When half your starting defense is on the shelf for 2 weeks or more what is a team to do? Tonight will be the first glimpse into that answer as the Winnipeg Jets, with Bogosian and Enstrom out through December and Clitsome at least another two weeks, take on the Avalanche.
Things appeared promising for the return of Enstrom before the game against the Oilers, but something has set him back. For Bogosian and the latest injury- LBI (lower body injury) it’s almost part of his regular season schedule and this time it comes at another inopportune time. For Clitsome it’s another tough break for a player who has struggled with his health and being in the lineup- his deal, one that could have been given to HRR Ron Hainsey can only be seen as bad asset management now.
So tonight the Jets will move Dustin Byfuglien back to defense and run the pairs as follows: Stuart- Trouba Buff- Chiarot Pardy-Postma Brouillette is the 7th.
The forwards were rushing in the following lines this morning:
LLW KPF LSH PST
So that’s what the Jets have as player resources to make a statement against a division rival, and more as they have a busy December. The challenge here is waging risk vs temptation at least as it pertains for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.
The immediate idea would be to make a deal and find some one to shore up the defense. If this is a viable option/solution is it long term or short term? Would the Jets want an expiring deal or some one they can send down once injuries subside or, does it makes sense to add a building block?
The measurement of the decision is important because it depends on the strength of how well this group plays. The variable is Dustin Byfuglien now back in his preferred position of defense, what if he excels there? It shifts the dynamic, especially if the shift is enough to convince Paul Maurice to leave him there. Should that happen what do the Jets do with their bottom 6 forwards? It’s already known that any combination on the bottom 3 is borderline atrocious and certainly not trusted by Maurice in key situations. The challenge is do Halischuk and Galiardi become relied upon more even though they spend most time in press box? That there is the depth problem, as sitting one or both of Thorburn Peluso does not automatically give a viable upgrade.
How long the patchwork quilt of a defense being rolled out tonight can go is the biggest question. 3 years ago the Jets used the month of December as a home stand to launch themselves into playoff position, now, with being in that wild card spot most of the season will the fall or hold fast.
Here comes another measurement variable the short-term record this month. If the Jets are getting worked over in games does it force Chevy’s hand or can he be patient? Furthermore does a fall in standings mean other bigger changes have to be made, ones that could mean dealing players such as Kane or Byfuglien?
Chevy has to weigh out a few things here: Legit timelines to return of top pairing d-men Play of the patchwork defense Jets record short-term 5 games vs long-term 11 games Potential trade targets Cost of trading. Importance of making the post season vs long-term growth Most of these are moving targets because Chevy probably needs time to see how this unfolds. But how much time? If maintaining a chance at the post season is important can this team afford a 5 game skid, something where they get 3 of 10 points, or longer? How far can they fall before it is deemed that they cannot recover?
This is the uneviable task for a GM of a team with questionable depth of roster and organization. It doesn’t matter that Zach Redmond is gone as much as how does the team weather the current storm. That’s the test for Chevy now as this is new, unfamiliar waters.
While last season saw the Jets within spitting distance at trade deadline before Scheifele was injured, this year it’s more than one player injured, far earlier and the Jets are closer than ever to being a legit playoff consideration. It’s a tougher test, with bigger stakes for Chevy.
The fact is the Jets needed some real adversity to give them and management a litmus test for where they are from where they were. That test is here now and we’re going to find out if they excel, pass or fail.
The interesting side product of all this is watching Buff on defense, if he plays well his value is going to soar and that could introduce a bigger variable down the stretch to the trade deadline. If he is playing well but the team has not followed suit there may be no better time to move him. There also may be no better time to move Evander Kane to a team such as Pittsburgh who has defense prospects and assets, as well as need.
Those are far-fetched ideas at this stage but with the Jets in the hunt this early and faced with adversity it will be telling by what Chevy is prepared to do, or not do.