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The Winnipeg Jets won 37 games last season, and the franchise hasn't won more than that since 2006-2007 in Atlanta, the last -- and only -- time that they have reached the playoffs.

 

Off-Season Game Plan looks at a Jets team that has an interesting core, a new coach and a problem between the pipes.

Many of Winnipeg's core players are in their twenties, in and around their prime years, so while that's reason for optimism, it's also reason for some urgency to take advantage of the kind of production being provided by the likes of Andew Ladd, Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien.

 

Byfuglien is an interesting case for the Jets, having shifted from defence to forward part way through last season. While Big Buff is an effective winger, his preference is to play defence, which might make him appealing as a trade candidate for other clubs that are willing to accomodate that desire.

 

But, if Byfuglien sticks around, the Jets have a quality group of forwards, with potential to be really good if Evander Kane and Mark Scheifele continue to develop. Their defence isn't as strong, overall, without Byfuglien, but Jacob Trouba's strong rookie season was encouraging. Basically, the Jets have a competitive group of skaters. Not great, necessarily, but competitive.

 

Then, it comes to goaltending, and that appears to be the area that needs fixing, only GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has backed Ondrej Pavelec as the team's starting goaltender going into next season. Maybe that's the stance that a GM has to take with a guy under contract for three more seasons, but his performance has been crippling to the Jets' playoff chances and if he starts 50-plus games again next season, that is a serious roll of the dice that the Jets are taking with a goaltender that has finished with a league average save percentage once in five NHL seasons.

 

The Jets did fare better under new head coach Paul Maurice, going 18-12-5 in the last 35 games, but that was largely due to favourable percentages and their possession stats only improved slightly over that span.

 

They are close enough to contend for a playoff spot next season, with a couple of savvy moves this summer and further development from young players, but if they don't do something to upgrade in goal, it may all for naught.

 

The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game statistics including goals and assists -- weighted for strength (ie. power play, even, shorthanded) -- Corsi, adjusted for zone starts, quality of competition and quality of teammates, hits, blocked shots, penalty differential and faceoffs. Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six forward and top four defenceman will be around 70, stars will be over 80 and MVP candidates could go over 90. Sidney Crosby finished at the top of the 2013-2014 regular season ratings at 87.12.

 

Salary cap information all comes from the indispensable www.capgeek.com.

CF% = Corsi percentage (ie. percentage of 5-on-5 shot attempts), via www.extraskater.com.

GM/COACH
 

Kevin Cheveldayoff/Paul Maurice

Returning Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Dustin Byfuglien 77.01 78 20 36 56 50.4% $5.2M Blake Wheeler 75.85 82 28 41 69 49.9% $5.6M Evander Kane 74.81 63 19 22 41 51.5% $5.25M Bryan Little 74.61 82 23 41 64 52.9% $4.7M Andrew Ladd 73.59 78 23 31 54 52.9% $4.4M Mark Scheifele 66.91 63 13 21 34 48.6% $863K Jim Slater 57.45 27 1 1 2 49.6% $1.6M Eric Tangradi 57.40 55 3 3 6 53.8% $675K Anthony Peluso 54.84 53 2 3 5 45.6% $563K

Free Agent Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class '13-'14 Cap Hit Michael Frolik 68.98 81 15 27 42 53.0% RFA $2.333M Olli Jokinen 64.17 82 18 25 43 49.2% UFA $4.5M Devin Setoguchi 63.46 75 11 16 27 48.8% UFA $3.0M Matt Halischuk 58.07 46 5 5 10 44.5% RFA $650K Chris Thorburn 57.18 55 2 9 11 43.3% UFA $867K James Wright 53.76 59 0 2 2 47.7% RFA $650K

Shifted to forward at the end of his run by since-departed coach Claude Noel, Dustin Byfuglien appears to be set for that spot again next season. That presumes that Byfuglien doesn't get moved in the summer, which is always a possibility, but also operates under the premise that the Jets are better with Byfuglien at forward. Byfuglien, individually, had a 51.7% Corsi percentage before he was moved to forward and 48.0% after.

 

That aside, in 32 games at (mostly) forward, Byfuglien had 10 goals, 12 assists and 102 shots on goal. On a per-game basis, those numbers would have placed him with pretty nice company last season. It's a little interesting that the bottom name on that list is Brent Burns, the Sharks' winger who also used to play defence.

 

Over the past three seasons, Blake Wheeler has 174 points, which ranks 22nd in the league over that span and last year's 50 even-strength points was tied for 13th in the league with David Krejci and Thomas Vanek. Wheelers is big and can move, which allows him to create mismatches depending on what gives him the advantage on a particular defender.

 

Evander Kane uses his terrific speed to generate shots at an elite level, but has been a relatively low-percentage finisher. Some of that is due to not getting first-unit power play time and, even at even-strength, could use better linemates to help him out. That doesn't absolve Kane of any responsibility for his production, which has dipped since scoring 30 goals in 74 games in 2011-2012, but there's still a lot to like about what he brings to the game.

 

After scoing 23 goals and a career-high 64 points, there is a case to be made for Bryan Little as an advanced stats All-Star as one of a handful of players to face top-tier competition, start more shifts in the defensive zone and still have a relative Corsi over plus-10 per 60 minutes. The common perception of Little might be that he's a good second-line centre but the 26-year-old is coming off a season in which he was a full-fledged No. 1 pivot.

 

Team captain Andrew Ladd has scored 98 goals over the past four seasons, ranking 24th in that span. He's a reliable two-way player that can be used in any situation and he is, averaging 19:46 per game in four seasons with the franchise.

 

Mark Scheifele had rounded into form, with 12 goals and 29 points in the last 39 games he played before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Considering that Scheifele managed five points in his first 24 games last season, and had his Corsi percentage rise from 46.7% to 49.7% over those splits, counts as positive indications that he could fulfill the second-line centre role going forward.

 

A sports hernia cost Jim Slater two-thirds of last season, and he's mustered a grand total of two goals and four points in 53 games over the past two seasons. While he's hit double-digits in goals three times in his career, Slater has also missed at least a dozen games in six of nine seasons, so it's getting difficult to count on him, even in a fourth-line role.

 

Though he has a paltry 15 points in 136 career games, big winge Eric Tangradi held his own in a depth role last season, putting up positive possession stats. As an inexpensive fourth-line option, the Jets could do worse.

 

Like most forwards that play less than six minutes per game, Anthony Peluso can't risk playing too many minutes, lest he be exposed. He's a scrapper who can handle the big boys, though, so as long as the Jets are going to leave a roster spot for that role, Peluso can fill it. At the same time, they could probably do without.

 

26-year-old Michael Frolik established that he hasn't completely forgotten how to create offence, scoring 42 points, his most since 2009-2010. He's still a low-percentage finisher, but a versatile forward who can play both ends of the rink.

 

A couple years removed from a career-best 28-point season, Matt Halischuk has been battling to keep a regular spot in the lineup and, last season, he was overrun in possession terms. He's a viable fourth-line forward, but also one that could quickly be replaced.

24-year-old James Wright has good size, but there isn't much else justifying his place on an NHL roster. Last season, he was one of eight forwards since 2000-2001 to play at least 500 minutes and not register a single goal.

 

The Jets have a solid core of forwards, but can use a couple of top-nine forwards to effectively take spots of unrestricted free agents Olli Jokinen and Devin Setoguchi. Given the free agent alternatives at centre, the Jets could be okay doing a short-term deal with Jokinen and then find a solid checking forward, like Blake Comeau, Jesse Winchester or Daniel Winnik could round out the group nicely.

Returning Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Jacob Trouba 71.45 65 10 19 29 49.0% $894K Grant Clitsome 67.12 32 2 10 12 51.7% $2.067M Tobias Enstrom 66.89 82 10 20 30 50.6% $5.75M Zach Bogosian 63.37 55 3 8 11 49.4% $5.143M Mark Stuart 61.70 69 2 11 13 47.6% $2.625M Paul Postma 58.59 20 1 2 3 47.4% $713K

Free Agent Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class '13-'14 Cap Hit Adam Pardy 57.93 60 0 6 6 53.7% UFA $600K Keaton Ellerby 57.48 51 2 4 6 48.0% RFA $735K

 

One of the reasons that the Jets might have felt able to move Byfuglien to forward was the emergence of Jacob Trouba, who recovered from a neck injury and led the Jets in ice time following the Olympic break, averaging 23:33 per game. A 20-year-old who can skate, hit and contribute offensively, Trouba will have more responsibility heaped on him, but he has the makings of a No. 1 on the blueline.

 

Back surgery ended Grant Clitsome's season early, but he was logging nearly 20 minutes a night, with positive possession stats at the time of his injury. Clitsome can move the puck and play a solid game, though he's never played more than 63 games in an NHL season, so there's still some unknown regarding his performance over the course of a full season.

 

While Tobias Enstrom's offensive production dipped to a career-low 0.37 points per game last season, he still delivered relatively steady play while facing tough competition. He's small, but mobile and his ability to move the puck is important to the Jets' defence.

Zach Bogosian hasn't really made the mark that was expected when he was drafted third overall in 2008 and, on top of being bitten by the injury bug -- he's missed 70 games over the past four seasons -- Bogosian hasn't been able to successfully lock into a shutdown role. That's the objective, but there is still some unexplored potential in the 23-year-old's game.

 

A rugged veteran, Mark Stuart combined for 389 hits and blocked shots last season, ranking third among defencemen (behind Cody Franson and Radko Gudas), so there's no denying that he lays his body on the line. He also tends to spend more of his time in the Jets' end of the ice, though last season he was taking on tougher matchups, playing more minutes once Byfuglien moved up.

Paul Postma hasn't been able to hold down a regular spot in the lineup, playing 57 career games and while he has some puck skills and a big shot that suit him on the power play, Postma struggled at even-strength last season.

 

Between Postma, Keaton Ellerby and pending unrestricted free agent Adam Pardy, the Jets had a battle for playing time at the bottom of the defence depth chart. Ellerby could take on more minutes if Pardy departs, but that may just mean a more regular turn in the lineup.

 

The wildcard could be top prospect Joshua Morrissey, who is a fast-rising offensive defenceman. If he makes the club, that could raise the group's ceiling.

Returning Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Cap Hit Ondrej Pavelec 60.64 57 22 26 7 3.01 .901 $3.9M

Free Agent Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Class '13-'14 Cap Hit Al Montoya 68.70 28 13 8 3 2.30 .920 UFA $601K

 

Over the past three seasons, Ondrej Pavelec has cost the Jets approximately 45 goals compared to the league average, according to Hockey Reference's Goals Saved Above Average measure. It's one thing to be at the bottom of the league in save percentage and another to continually get played at a starter's workload. The Jets have invested money in Pavelec, but it's really had to rationalize him in a starter's role, especially if the team considers itself ready to contend for a playoff spot.

 

There may be challenges to getting rid of Pavelec, not least of which is that Cheveldayoff has said that Pavelec will be the No. 1 goalie next year, but he also may not be particularly appealing to other teams with the Jets paying half of his salary.

 

Given how much it has been a problem lately, though, the Jets have to investigate opportunities to upgrade their goaltending. A trade for Manitoba native James Reimer could work, or signing a free agent like Jonas Hiller, Brian Elliott, Ray Emery or Tomas Vokoun could be worthwhile.

Top Prospects Player Pos. Team/League Stats Joshua Morrissey D Prince Albert (WHL) 28-45-73, +6, 59 GP Nicolas Petan C Portland (WHL) 35-78-113, +47, 63 GP Adam Lowry LW St. John's (AHL) 17-16-33, -1, 64 GP Eric Comrie G Tri-City (WHL) 2.57 GAA, .925 SV%, 60 GP Scott Kosmachuk RW Guelph (OHL) 49-52-101, +52, 68 GP Andrew Copp C Michigan (Big 10) 15-14-29, +1, 33 GP Connor Hellebuyck G UMass-Lowell (HE) 1.79 GAA, .941 SV%, 29 GP J.C. Lipon RW St. John's (AHL) 9-32-41, even, 72 GP Brenden Kichton D St. John's (AHL) 10-38-48, +8, 76 GP Julian Melchiori D St. John's (AHL) 1-10-11, +19, 50 GP Eric O'Dell C St. John's (AHL)

17-25-42, +9, 42 GP

 

The 13th pick last summer, Joshua Morrissey had an outstanding year in Prince Albert. If the Jets are willing to live with the mistakes of a smart, teenaged offensive defenceman, then Morrissey (who has six points in eight AHL playoff games) could be a viable challenger for an NHL job as a 19-year-old.

 

An undersized playmaker, Nicolas Petan was a second-rond pick last summer and has been tearing up the WHL for the past couple seasons. Between regular season and playoffs, he's tallied 289 points (in 176 games) and while size may be an issue, the only way to find out if it's going to pose a problem is to wait and see how he does at the next level.

 

A 6-foot-5 winger-turned-centre, Adam Lowry completed his first pro season and is probably not far from challenging for a spot in Winnipeg. The third-round pick from 2011 picked up his play after Christmas, scoring 28 points in his last 43 regular-season games.

One of the game's better goaltending prospects, Eric Comrie was a second-round pick in 2013. He struggled in a couple of AHL games at season's end, but had a tremendous season in the WHL. He's also only 18-year-old, so it's going to take time before he's the answer to the Jets' goaltending questions.

 

Drafted in the third round in 2012, Scott Kosmachuk has improved steadily throughout his junior career and had a monster year with a powerhouse Guelph team in the OHL. He can make the jump to the AHL next season to see if his scoring will come to the pro game with him.

 

A solidly-built centre who was picked in the fourth round last year, Andrew Copp is making quick progress, coming off a strong sophomore season at Michigan while also putting up five points in five games at the World Juniors for Team USA.

 

There's not much more that Connor Hellebuyck can do in college to raise his profile. Through two years at UMass-Lowell, Hellebuyck has a .946 save percentage and a dozen shutouts. He's signed with the Jets and might be expected to start in the American Hockey League, but if he keep stopping pucks, there should be room for him.

 

An aggressive winger picked in the third roudn last summer, J.C. Lipon had a solid pro debut and wasn't shy about it, leading the Ice Caps in penalty minutes with 136.

 

Not the biggest blueliner on the block, Brenden Kichton was initially a fifth-round pick of the Islanders, was not signed, and then was drafted in the seventh-round by Winnipeg in 2013. A heady player who can quarterback a power play, Kichton ranked sixth among AHL defencemen in points as a rookie pro.

 

A third-round pick in 2010, Julian Melchiori is a big, stay-at-home defenceman who has missed time with injuries in each of his first two pro seasons.

 

Eric O'Dell turns 24 this summer, which puts him on the older side as a prospect but, in addition to scoring 97 points in 101 AHL games over the past two seasons, he also played 30 games for the Jets last season (3 G, 4 A, 51.0 CF%) so he's able to contribute now.

Jets advanced stats and player usage chart from Extra Skater

 

DRAFT
9th - Nick Ritchie, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jake Virtanen, Haydn Fleury

 

FREE AGENCY
According to www.capgeek.com, the Jets have approximately $49.9M committed to the 2013-2014 salary cap for 16 players.

Check out my possible Jets lineup for next season on Cap Geek here.

 

Needs: Two top nine forwards, one top four defenceman, goaltenders.

What I said the Jets needed last year: Two top six forwards, two top nine forwards, one top four defenceman, goaltender.

They added: Michael Frolik, Mark Scheifele, Devin Setoguchi, Jacob Trouba.

TRADE MARKET
Dustin Byfuglien, Evander Kane

 

Hockey buzz (yeah I know) reporting two eastern teams interested in grant Clitsome. That's a move I hasn't considered but it does make some sense. He is decent and has a good contract. Might be a little squeezed out of Winnipeg of we're looking to keep Postma and/or Redmond full time (or brining Kulda or Morrissey in).

Also reports that Flyers still want Buff. I think there's a deal to be made there.

Jets are gonna be a tough team to trade with. If Chevy & Chips have surrendered to the idea of being a 79 to 87 point team the next couple years why not play out the non-playoff string with some of the fan faves you already have on your roster?  I think almost everyone in Wpg has fallen in love with the stiffs on the current roster and really don't mind not playing in May and June.

Completely disagree. Fans like everyone in a jets jersey. But trade buff to make the team better and we will all be thrilled.

And again management has never said they are happy with status quo.

Chevy doesn't do trades so why would he start now? We are close to being a playoff team in the West. I think we did a lot better than most pundits thought we'd do last season coming out of that weak Southeast Division so I think he'll add a few pieces, subtract a few but it'll be status quo as usual. Not convinced trading Buff is the right thing to do anyway. I do know that putting him at winger is the right thing to do.

I would trade Buff now if you can get a decent return for him. Especially if he ends up offing on the 3rd line next season.

A man that big who reportedly isn't the biggest fitness fanatic will experience a sharp decline in his play. I'd rather that happen on another team if we can get a decent return for him now.

Chevy does make trades. Saying he doesn't make trades is factually incorrect.

Chevy does make trades. Saying he doesn't make trades is factually incorrect.

He got a couple nice draft picks for The Pizza Man, Johnny Oduya. Oduya is playing much better in the Chicago system than he ever did in Atlanta/Winnipeg.

 

Fans are tickled pink the Jets are within 6 pts of a playoff berth - so major or even semi-major trades aren't likely. Clitsome is a possibility. Chevy would have to get over-value for Kane so that one won't happen either. I think the Finnish Gash will sign up for another year. A younger goaler likely to replace Montoya as Ondrej's backup. Fans won't tolerate that fast kid with no hands being brought back either!

He would have to get over value for a young 30 goal scorer?

Chevy does make trades. Saying he doesn't make trades is factually incorrect.

Yeah, we've had some absolute blockbusters, haven't we? At trade deadline & the draft he's a master at it. The room is just electric. 

How many blockbuster trades has there been in total in the last three years?

Chevy does make trades. Saying he doesn't make trades is factually incorrect.

Yeah, we've had some absolute blockbusters, haven't we? At trade deadline & the draft he's a master at it. The room is just electric.

That's not what you wrote thought. You dated chevy doesn't make trades. That's not true. To now get sarcastic about what you wrote is disingenuous.

And as stated how many blockbuster trades actually happen?

I'm just sayin' the trades he makes are more for tweaking the lineup or tinkering with it. So yeah, he has done trades but of the minor variety. No splash on free agency either. 

 

 

Chevy does make trades. Saying he doesn't make trades is factually incorrect.

Yeah, we've had some absolute blockbusters, haven't we? At trade deadline & the draft he's a master at it. The room is just electric.

That's not what you wrote thought. You dated chevy doesn't make trades. That's not true. To now get sarcastic about what you wrote is disingenuous.

And as stated how many blockbuster trades actually happen?

 

And you say I take things too seriously? Dude, look at your posts. 

What are you talking about? You made a statement that was 100% incorrect. If you want

To discuss the effectiveness of Chevy's stint as GM by all means do so but he has made trades. And since you've admitted that now yes I agree with you he has made trades to tweak the line up.

Trading for Frolik was a very good deal.

No digs man. Just discussion.

You know, when I said that Chevy doesn't do trades, I meant he doesn't do big trades like trading away a  player like Byyfuglien. He's content to sit on the guy. People here are saying hey, I'd trade  Buff for this guy or that guy or these players. Clearly, that's not how Chevy rolls. Of course he makes trades, every GM does. All of his trades have been minor ones. Just look at who he's traded for & away. Like I said a tweak here, a subtraction there. An addition somewhere else. Traded away draft picks & added some as well. He's afraid to roll the dice on a major deal to alter the core of the Jets as he is a very conservative GM. Content to let his draft picks develop. If he drafts as bad as the Flames have done since 1990 we'll be out of the playoffs for a long, long time. I'm not convinced that this is the core we can win with but he's the GM so he's paid to make those decisions. 

I guess I should have made it clearer which is my fault.

How many blockbuster trades has there been in total in the last three years?

like none, maybe 1 if you want to consider the nash to nyr trade. 

 

But really, other than that, nothing.

Marty to NYR was kinda blockbuster!

Im not sure the opportunity has truly presented itself for the Jets to make a blockbuster.

 

They told us they wanted to model themselves after the Predators.  They said they wanted to take a slow and steady, build throught the draft approach.  I recall an interview with Chipman where he said the Jets would never really be a cap team but he was prepared to spend money if he felt the team was 'close' to a legitimate run.  And yet, they did spend a lot closer to the cap then a lot of people thought they would.  They signed the "core" guys, used the waiver and minor deals to try and improve the bottom six and used the draft to get a future #1 D man and #1 centre.

 

They explored options for Parise (and I think there was another big name UFA they looked at but I cant recall). 

 

Chevy has stated some deals discussed at the deadline were significant and required ownership-level approval.  I really think Chevy is comfortable trading a core guy but only if it benefits the Jets now and in the future and isnt just a shake-up deal.  I think the Jets are very "careful" and likely see no reason not to be careful.  You see it even in Chevy's decision not to trade any of his UFA's at the deadline even though it likely made little to no difference to us...also, his refusal to panic when Scheif went down.  They stayed the course.

 

But I wouldnt be surprised to see a blockbuster deal if another team offered something significant.  For example, Buff to the Flyers.  Supposedly the flyers offered Briere but the Jets wanted much more.  You keep hearing talk of Buff to the Flyers so one wonders if both teams keep circling back to it with the Jets likely maintaining their position of a minimum standard they want back.

You see it even in Chevy's decision not to trade any of his UFA's at the deadline even though it likely made little to no difference to us...also, his refusal to panic when Scheif went down.  They stayed the course.

 

But I wouldnt be surprised to see a blockbuster deal if another team offered something significant.  For example, Buff to the Flyers.  Supposedly the flyers offered Briere but the Jets wanted much more.  You keep hearing talk of Buff to the Flyers so one wonders if both teams keep circling back to it with the Jets likely maintaining their position of a minimum standard they want back.

Scheifle's injury was likely the reason Jokinen wasn't moved at the trade deadline.  For a team making a playoff run he would have netted the biggest return to the Jets by a long shot.  We would not have gotten much for Seteguchi or Montoya, but a veteran former all-star center?  Chevy had to take the tent down on that one unfortunately (although I still think he'd have decent value as our 3rd line center next year as long as he's getting 3rd line $).

 

If Buff is viewed solely as an asset then I'd want a large return on him.  His skill set is unique in the NHL; his value is tremendous.  If a team isn't offering us something that will make our team better now or significantly better in the future, why should we make a deal?

I agree mrbrg.  I think Buff has significant value.  He's a "new age" hybrid player.  You cant even define him anymore as a D or O player.  When they moved him to forward, he still played plenty of minutes on D special teams.  Any team that is a playoff team and thinks it has a chance should be interested in Buff and that should result in significant pieces coming back.  Legit contenders should have the depth to make the deal too.  A team like the Flyers have a lot of peices and might see Buff as that big body, puck moving D, scorer they need.

 

I'd also be okay with Jokinen coming back around $2m.  But It doesnt excite me, just sort of ho hum.  Id be more excited about Burmi's return.  Apparently, though, Jokinen is a mentor to Kane (not sure if that is a factor either way).

 

You see it even in Chevy's decision not to trade any of his UFA's at the deadline even though it likely made little to no difference to us...also, his refusal to panic when Scheif went down.  They stayed the course.

 

But I wouldnt be surprised to see a blockbuster deal if another team offered something significant.  For example, Buff to the Flyers.  Supposedly the flyers offered Briere but the Jets wanted much more.  You keep hearing talk of Buff to the Flyers so one wonders if both teams keep circling back to it with the Jets likely maintaining their position of a minimum standard they want back.

Scheifle's injury was likely the reason Jokinen wasn't moved at the trade deadline.  For a team making a playoff run he would have netted the biggest return to the Jets by a long shot.  We would not have gotten much for Seteguchi or Montoya, but a veteran former all-star center?  Chevy had to take the tent down on that one unfortunately (although I still think he'd have decent value as our 3rd line center next year as long as he's getting 3rd line $).

 

If Buff is viewed solely as an asset then I'd want a large return on him.  His skill set is unique in the NHL; his value is tremendous.  If a team isn't offering us something that will make our team better now or significantly better in the future, why should we make a deal?

 

 

Where did you hear talk of Jokinen possibly being traded at the deadline? All of the talk I head was about moving Seteguchi.

Yeah I don't recall hearing jokinen trade rumours though it wouldn't have surprised me that a team was interested in him. Problem was the Jets were still competing for a spot and wouldn't have traded their number three centre

The Gooch rumours were him and Thorburn to San Jose for Burrish (I think) and someone else.

Once again who could the Jets could of acquired in a blockbuster trade?   Which free agent superstars could they have signed?

 

I don't even really see any big mistakes that Chevy has done... it's not his fault that Seto and Pavs completely dropped in performance after signing them...   at the time it was good signings.   

BTW, nate.. i don't think a guy (st louis) demanding to be traded to basically just one team (NYR) is a  blockbuster.

 

Last blockbuster if people want to call it that was probably nash to NYR or Van  Riemsdyk to Toronto but at that time, JVR was basically nobody.

 

 

Our good friend Eklund says sources tell him Chicago, Boston, Buffalo are preparing offers for Kane.

So what so we want from each to make a deal?

Our good friend Eklund says sources tell him Chicago, Boston, Buffalo are preparing offers for Kane.

So what so we want from each to make a deal?

 

Let's pretend our friend Eklund isn't full of crap like always... 

 

 

Chicago? Saad, prospect and a pick or 2 even cuz they aint picking high. not gonna trade kane to a team in our own division though unless toews is coming this way (NOT HAPPENING)

 

Boston? Not  gonna happen but one of Marchand or even that prick Lucic plus a Left Handed D man and their first round pick.

 

Buffalo? pick 2 and one of zadorov(preferably cuz he's a LHD) or Rastailanen or Girgensons. Probably most likely cuz we'd probably get a guy like sam bennett at pick 2, seems to be the Jets M.O. If they do move a guy like Kane, you can bet that they are gonna want a high pick in return, of those 3 teams mentioned, buffalo is the only one who has a high pick.

 

In other words, Not gonna happen, as our friend Eklund generally is wrong all the time.