Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Taking A Look At Upcoming Free Agents on the Jets

January 19, 2022, 4:08 PM ET [22 Comments]
Jacob Billington
Winnipeg Jets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Winnipeg Jets have a roster built to contend. With that, comes a lot of price-y contracts. Are many of the contracts the Jets have worth their money? Absolutely. But they are still high prices. Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, Blake Wheeler, and Adam Lowry are locked up for quite a while up front, which is good for the team, even though Wheelers $8.25m is higher than most would like, he is under contract for 2 more seasons after this year.

On defense, other than those on ELC deals, everyone is locked up for at least 2 more years, besides Nathan Beaulieu. In terms of managing assets, I could see the Jets looking to move Nate Schmidt (5.95 x 3) and/or Brendan Dillon ($3.9m x 2) at the deadline or after this season. While I like both of them in their roles on this Jets blueline, young players like Samberg, Heinola, Chisholm, and even Stanley are looking for bigger roles on this team as soon as next season, and will be much cheaper options.

Later in the week, I will get into the buyer/seller conversation, and who could be on their way in and out of Winnipeg, but for now, let's just have a look at this team's offseason, assuming no moves are made before then.


Pierre-Luc Dubois
35GP - 16G-12A-28P
82GP Pace - 37G-28A-65P

Pierre-Luc Dubois has had a very good bounce back season thus far. Starting the season red-hot, Dubois has certainly slowed down, but is still having a solid season. After being acquired for Laine and Roslavic, Dubois was quite dissapointing last year, which even he would admit. The pending RFA will likely be looking for a mid-to-long range deal, and I would expect the Jets to want to sign him around the 4-5 year range.

Now, price wise? Having a player with so many more assets than the scoresheet can tell, makes it incredibly hard to guess until we start hearing some rumours, but he will definitely be looking for a raise. The power-forward brings much more than his offensive game, as he plays a physical game, and will get into all of the dirty areas. Production, and play style. A good comparable for Dubois could look like Matthew Tkachuk's most recent contract. While Tkachuk has more offensive upside, I see that $7m mark being the asking point from Dubois and his agent.

If I had to guess right now, I would say the contract will look somewhere close to 4x$6.5m



Paul Stastny
24GP - 8G-8A-16P
82GP Pace - 27G-27A-54P

This season has been surprisingly productive for the 36 year old, Paul Stastny. The versatility that Stastny has shown this year is very valuable. He has been able to produce on almost every line, with any linemates. I am sure this will come up in negotiation talks.

Besides that, Stastny will be 37 next year and will only get a 1 or 2 year contract, and I think the Jets will, realistically, be looking for a relatively low AAV. Stastny has made lots of money in his career, and will be looking for a Stanley Cup before calling it quits. I would expect Stastny to take a deal around $2m, whether he believes this Jets team can get it done, or tries things out with a different contender, I believe that decision will be up to him, as he will be gladly welcomed on most top-end teams' rosters at the right price.

I expect to see a contract in the ballpark of 1x$2.3m



Andrew Copp
35GP - 10G-15A-25P
82GP Pace - 23G-35A-58P

Now, Andrew Copp has had a fantastic year, and is showing he is a true top-six forward. After a great year in the North Division, Copp has continued his development, and like Stastny, can play anywhere in the lineup. A versatile middle-six player is how he has been lining up most of this season, while filling in on the top line when need be.

A contract in the area of 3x$5m could be a realistic asking price for Copp, should he continue getting better and better.



Krisitan Vesalainen
31GP - 2G-1A-3P
82GP Pace - 5G-3A-8P

Vesalainen has had some shaky development, and as he was once a highly touted prospect, it seems he has found a longer term spot on the third line. With this just being his first full NHL season at the age of 22, there is certainly still room to grow. Defensively, Vesalainen has been pretty good. It is just a matter of if he can start producing.

I wouldn't expect much of a raise for the young forward, I would say within the realm of 2x$1.2m.



Evgeny Svechnikov
31GP - 3G-7A-10P
82GP Pace - 8G-19A-27P

Svechnikov has had a great season, considering he joined the team on a PTO after not finding a place in the off-season. Already setting his career high in games played in a season, Svechnikov has played great with Connor and Dubois, but has struggled a bit more in the bottom half of the lineup.

If the Jets decide to keep him around, I could see Evgeny getting a 1 year deal worth $1m or less.



Jansen Harkins
34GP - 3G-3A-6P
82GP Pace - 7G-7A-14P

The bottom line of the Winnipeg Jets has seen lots of changes. Harkins has been one of the most consistent players to stay on that line, and even though a steady 4th liner isnt much, he is pretty good defensively and on the PK, and not much production is expected from him.

Role players like Jansen don't often make too much money, and with Harkins currently making 700k, I could definitely see him return on a 1x$900k deal.



Nathan Beaulieu
16GP - 0G-1A-1P
82GP Pace - 0G-5A-5P

Now, I don't see a world where Beaulieu returns to the Jets lineup, but he has been able to jump in and out of the lineup all season. While not being perticularly good, or horrendous, Beaulieu just hasn't really fit in with the Jets lineup.

If the Jets were to offer Beaulieu another deal, it would be a downgrade for him, as he is currently making $1.3m, and I couldn't see the Jets offering more than 900k for one season.



Eric Comrie
7GP - 3-2-1, .914sv%, 2.53GAA

Eric Comrie has been a pretty serviceablel backup this year. Playing one good stint in perticular while Connor Hellebuyck was out welcoming his child to the world. As his stats show, Comrie has been able to give his team a chance to win each time he is called upon.

I think that Comrie finally settles in, and sticks around for a while on a deal that will look something like 2x$1.3m. The tough part is that with Hellebuyck in the crease, and the Jets already tight to the cap, they won't be looking to spend too much on a backup.

Like I said earlier, I will do another article in which I take a look at who should return, who should be released, or who shouldn't make it past the deadline.

Let me know what you think about the pending free agents on this team, and what should be done with them.

Jacob Billington
Join the Discussion: » 22 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Jacob Billington
» Jets Announce Lowry as Captain, Chisholm Extension
» Winnipeg Jets Prospect Pyramid: 2023 Edition - Part One
» Rasmus Kupari Could Develop into More Than 4C
» Jets Need to Make Decisions on Defense; Mailbag Incoming
» Jets Sign Morgan Barron, 2x$1.35 million, 3 contracts left